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SMITHSONIAN DEPOSIT 



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IW213 




WELLES LEY, MASS. 



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IE IE 3 "Z^E MBEK, 1877. 



BOSTON: 
GETCHELL BROS., PUBLISHERS AND PRINTERS 
253 Washington Street. 

1S77. 




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THE RIDGE HILL FARMS 



A RE situated in Wellesley, Mass., fourteen miles from 
Boston by the Boston & Albany Railroad. They 
comprise eleven farms, owned by Wm. Emerson Baker, of 
Boston, who first bought, in 1S6S, two farms aggregating 
230 acres. By subsequent purchases the estate now encloses 
820 acres. On the west and south it has the Charles River 
for a boundary nearly four miles. About one mile north- 
east from the Pavilion Grove is a singularly formed Ridge 
over one mile in length, thickly shaded by Oak, Pine 
and Chestnut trees, making, with fern glens and weird 
nature, an unusually picturesque walk. This Ridge — 
the approach to which is too intricate to be found without 
a guide — suggested the name of the Ridge Hill Farms. 
But the owner has made such extensive improvements 
that a large area of these farms have now more of the 
characteristics of an Educational Park. Numerous private 
and quite original fetes have been here given ; some of 
them so extensive as to assemble three thousand guests. 
These have led to such publicity as to excite a wide-spread 
desire to visit this estate, so curiously combining art with 
nature — quaint history and comical amusements. 



Guide to the 



The applications from strangers for permission to visit 
the grounds, buildings and the Grotto, liberty to shelter 
carriages in the horse-sheds, and to use the row-boats, &c, 
have become so numerous, and when granted so expensive, 
that the owner, in order to get any privacy, is either com- 
pelled to destroy all his works, or else submit to the inevi- 
table, and, under some system, which in any case requires 
much care and constant supervision, regulate the privi- 
leges granted. 

These privileges have been grossly abused by the thefts 
of plants, fruits and exposed articles, the careless handling 
and breaking of valuable ornaments, ferns, and of twigs 
from trained trees, strewing the grounds and ponds with 
paper and refuse from the luncheon basket, feeding the pet 
animals with tobacco, &c. Very many visitors, who care- 
fully conform to the proprieties of life while at their homes, 
have here proved, in numerous selfish ways, their thought- 
less disregard of the expense caused to the proprietor. 
This reckless want of consideration for the courtesies 
extended to them provokes the closing of the gates to all. 

But in order to avoid this, — to gratify the well-disposed, 
who hesitate to ask favors, to control the indiscreet, who 
are the most numerous solicitants, and save himself and 
household numerous applications from strangers, — the 
owner has granted concessions as follows : — 



Ridge Hill Farms. 



All applicants to visit this estate, approved at 13 West 
Street, Boston, or at the Registry Office at the Farms, 
where every one is required to register his or her name, 
will be allowed_/>e6' access to the grounds and the pet ani- 
mals on the visiting days, 

Wednesdays and Saturdays. 

But no visitors will be permitted to enter the Grotto, 
nor the Norino Tower, the Camera or other buildings, 
except upon payment of the small service fee (10 cents), 
necessary to pay the one-half cent to each of the 
twenty attendants there required, both as guides and 
to prevent the thefts and other indiscretions which have 
been so frequent and annoying. This regulation avoids 
all necessity of gifts to employes, and is objectionable 
only to that class who pi-efer to live at others' expense. 

In order to deter visitors coming on other than the reg- 
ular visiting days, a charge of twenty-five cents, for service- 
fee coupons, will be made on other than Wednesdays and 
Saturdays. Thursdays xvill be most liable to be reserved 
exclusively for the guests of the owner. 

For this service fee visitors will receive three coupons, 
one of which will be given up upon admission to each of 
the following places : Norino Tower, including Arcadium 
for Little Folks and the Tivoli Hall — the Round Tower, 
Smugglers' Cave, Stalactite Grotto — and the Camera. 



G tilde to the 



Upon showing any one of these coupons admission will 
also be had, ■when the convenience of the ozvncr will fier- 
mit, to the carriage-house and stable departments, to the 
Chapel, the Bowling Alley, the Pavilion Hall, the Con- 
servatory part of the Ilot-IIouses, and the Boat-House. 

Should the service fees aggregate more than the expen- 
ditures specially arising from the admission of visitors, 
such surplus will be given to the Charity Fund. 

On arriving at the estate, the Registry Office will be 
found on the west side of Grove Street. Here every visi- 
tor is required to register his or her name. 



£a the %w*l $vomut<si $\\$\ irf $vove gtxett. 

Enter by the Chamois Gateway, opposite the Registry 
Office, so named from the chamois on the granite piers.* 

The Conscrz'atorv Lawn on your right was an apple 
orchard in 1S73. 

The Portulacca bed bordering this lawn and Grove 
Street is seven hundred feet in length. 

The roof of the stable is decorated by a large allegorical 
painting of the "Uoren" leading forth the Horses of 
the Sun, — by John Gibson, R.A. 



* Strangers entering the grounds by any other than the Chamois 
Gateway will be regarded as trespassers. Carriages will not be ad- 
mitted. 



Ridge Hill Fan 



The Horen were known as the attendants of the Gods 
(particularly of Aphrodite), — as Guardians to the Gates of 
Heaven, — Goddesses of the Seasons, — of the Hours of 
the day, and also of Eternal Youth. 

The colored circular cartoon on the west side, represent- 
ing the controlling effect of music on animals, is from the 
mythological fable of Orpheus, by Engerth, in Vienna. 

The oil cartoon below it pictures the German mytho- 
logical legend of the Walkiiren, the handmaids of Wotan 
(Jupiter), whose duties were to select the warriors slain 
in battle and conduct them to Walhalla (the eternal home 
of the brave). These Walkiiren and their wild horses 
were supposed to be immortal. The frame of this stable 
was moved one thousand feet, placed on its present site, 
and reconstructed in 1872. The tower adjoining was 
erected in 1S74, for a reservoir tank. But a more ex- 
tended water service was devised before the tower was 
finished. The proximity of the tower and stable gave the 
architectural appearance of a church. In order to destroy 
this illusion, the owner had the entire outside of the stable 
painted black, the trimmings bronze green, and relieved 
this by covering the fluting and dentals with gold leaf. 
The striking effect of this bold departure, defiantly controls 
the mind, as intended. 



Guide to tJie 



Enter Norino Tower (from the word Xorino, Greek, 
meaning to make known, to point out, gain knowledge of). 
The ist department, twenty feet in height, is marked 
"Architecture in Construction and in Dress." Here are 
found photographs of famous buildings, models of the 
Alhambra, steel and chain armors of past centuries, 
pictures, chromos, raised figures on rice paper, and stat- 
ues of bronze, clay and papier mache^ showing the cos- 
tumes of various centuries. 

Ascend the Donkey Stairway, so named from the appro- 
priate paintings on the side wall, to the 

2d floor, marked " Chemical, Mechanical and Electri- 
cal '," 'which is devoted to apparatus, models, &c, explana- 
tory of these subjects. 

3d floor: "Sanitary. Suggestive of mental amuse- 
ment and less materia medica." 

4th floor: " Of tics, illusions and delusions" Here 
are twelve round windows of varied colored glass, show- 
ing the outside nature as in the four seasons of spring, 
summer, autumn and winter; also other peculiar sunlight 
reflections. 

5th floor: "Harmony in outlines and colors, as -well 
as in vibrative brass or human tongues" Art is here ex- 
hibited in toned colors by flowers, by stuffed birds and 
chromos on musical subjects, and here also is a curious 



Ridge Hill jFarms. 



reed music box and the stringed instrument called the 
Zither. 

6th floor : "Tke End of Life. What is it ? What the 
aim of life t What the record at the end? " Here are found 
engravings of Martin's wonderfully elaborate paintings 
of the Pandemonium, Fall of Babylon, Satan in Council; 
also The Crucifixion, Canova's Tomb, La Mort, allegori- 
cal souvenir of the French Revolution of 184S, and a large 
engraving, 200 years old, allegorical of the Day of Judg- 
ment, by Senonien. 

Twenty-two feet above this floor, we reach the 7th 
department, or roof, marked " What zve see about us. 
Looking- doivti on our peculiar -world; looking- up to the 
clear yet dark beyond.'''' 

Descend to the second floor, and by the Doggerel Gallery 
(the side-walls of which are covered with paintings, casts, 
&c, of dogs) , pass" to the Arcadium for Little Folks, 
which hall, thirty by fifty feet, is filled with oddities both 
to amuse and to instruct children, consisting of me- 
chanical toys, music boxes, dolls, baby houses, puzzles, 
pictures, skating rink, and an endless variety of other au- 
tomatic attractions, educating the child student by suggest- 
ing the reason xvhy. The table spread with cold lunch, 
the Japanese curiosities and other novelties, induce adults 
as well as children to linger here. Descend thence to the 



Guide to tht 



Tivoli Hall, which is also thirty by fifty feet: here 
are found Billiard Table, Erratic Spinner, Tivoli, and many 
other table games for adults, a very peculiar mechanical 
piano, curious views of Paris on glass inlaid with pearl, 
porcelain kautes reliefs of the Erl King, Mephistopheles 
and Faust, of War and Peace, art engravings of Raphael's 
Twelve Hours, natural leaves from trees perforated in 
portraits and scenery, &c. 

Passing through the communicating door to the First 
Department of Norino Tower, and out at the same door 
by which you entered the Tower, proceed to the south side 
of the Stable, on which are found several colored cartoons 
having comical reference to draught animals. 

At the further or north end of the Carriage Department 
will be found the old-fashioned coach once owned by 
Governor Eustis, and in which his guest, General Lafay- 
ette, rode when he was received by the city of Boston, 
with a grand ovation, in the year 1SJ5. 

If admitted to the Stable, take notice of the peculiar 
arrangement of the stalls permitting the horses to see the 
visitors without turning round, and thus avoid being 
frightened. 

The hopper of the automatic feed-box being filled and 
the indicator of the clock set, the trap will fall and the 
feed pass to the horses at the hour indicated, thus soon in- 



Ridge Hill Farms. o 

ducing the horses to watch all clocks, thoughtful of the 
Stew hour. 

Leaving the Stable, proceed by the Norino Avenue to the 
Album Bowling Alley in Pavilion Grove, which is so 
named because the owner makes use of its side-walls and 
ceiling, as others use a scrap-book, — for his private collec- 
tion of newspaper and other scraps, and also souvenirs 
pertaining to his eventful life. This is generally closed 
to all but guests of the Proprietor. If permitted to enter 
it, the visitor can here pass a half-hour very acceptably in 
examining the peculiar illustrations, original programmes 
and other souvenirs of the many fetes given at Ridge Hill 
Farms. On the roof of this Album Bowling Alley there 
is a chime of bells moulded from a new kind of bronze 
for the Boston Peace Jubilee Coliseum. 

The greater part of the gifts received at the u Tinth " 
anniversary of the Marriage Fete were lost by the fire on 
October 2S, 1876; but a very quaint collection of these tin 
gifts saved from the fire is here collected, consisting of 
Bells, Slippers, Decanters, Jewelry, Hats, Graters, &c* 

The " Uxion Chapel" has marked over the entrance, 
" Creed, Liberty of Conscience, Faith, Hope and Charity.'''' 
From its ceiling are suspended Doves, Birds, &c. ; on 



* Gents' Toilette at the east end of the Bowling Alley. 



io Guide to the 



its walls are appropriate photographs ; and the following 
mottoes in blue and gold are over the windows : — 

" Count that day lost whose low descending sun 
Views from thv hand no worthy action done." 



" Do noble things, not dream them all day long, 
And so make life, death, and that vast forever 
One grand, sweet song." 



"Look not mournfully into the past — 
The present is yours : 
Go forth into the future with courage 
And a manly heart." 



" Duty be thy Polar Guide,— 
Do the right what e'er betide : 
Haste not, rest not ; conflicts past, 
God shall crown your work at last. 



There is no one so bad but has 

Some good in him. 
There is no one so good who 

Cannot be better. 



Ridge Hill Farms. 1 1 



; ' In things essential, Unity; 
In non-essentials, Liberty; 
In all things, Charity." 



This Chapel was dedicated at a social fete on the 4th of 
July, 1869, one year after the purchase of the first farm. 

The Pavilion Hall in the Grove was erected in 1S75, 
but an addition was made for the Liberty of Conscience 
Fete, given to the ministers of all the differing denom- 
inations, September 20, 1S76. It is 30 x 140 feet, with two 
side-rooms and Orchestre Gallery in an L on the south 
side. This Pavilion Hall is used for private fetes and ban- 
quets. It is generally closed to visitors. But blow the 
call-whistle at the north front door, and the attendant in 
adjacent rear building will respond if admission be granted. 

The Log Cabin east of this Pavilion is used as its kitchen. 

In the Pavilion Grove will be found the Leaky Boot 
Drinking Fountain, from Berlin, and several ornamental 
enclosures, and pet animal houses for coorrs, squirrels and 
turtle doves. 

One of these is made of piping, for. the two raccoons, 
Mr. and Mrs. Davy Crockett, and the tzvin-baby Crock- 
ett- Coons. 

One large cage, cone-shaped, is for the black Florida fox 
squirrel, called Nut-ty Black, and the two gray squirrels 



12 Guide to the 



called the Gray Nun-such Sisters, although they so quar- 
rel for tidbits as to prove a lack of charity for each other. 

Another large cage, cone-shaped, encloses the Ring-neck 
Doves and Love Birds. These are well symbolical of 
Horatio Harris, who died in Roxbury, in 1S75, from whose 
estate this cage came, and of whom it ma}' be written : 
He was exceptionally faithful and charitable, and acutely 
sensitive of any publicity of his charity. 

Reader, what is your aim in life, and what will be your 
record at the end ? 

The other four cages, which are found during fine 
weather east of the Chapel in the Pavilion Grove, contain 
two sulphur-crested cockatoos from South America, known 
as Mr. and Mrs. Sulphuretta Cockatooto. 

One rose-colored cockatoo, called Rose Chatterbox. 

One blue and red macaw from Mexico, named Anti- 
blue-law Swearing Jack, because he improperly interprets 
the "Liberty of Conscience, " creed of the Union Chapel 
near by, and tv>*o green parrots from South America ; the 
one with the golden head being called Babv Mimic, 
because she cries • like an infant, and the other called 
Sister Green. 

Near that for the African porcupine will be found the 
Diorama, enclosed by wire walls to prevent more than 
three persons examining it at the same time. 



Ridge Hill F 



arms. 13 



In the Grove south from Pavilion Hall, is to be erected 
the house for the monkeys, parrots, macaws, cockatoos, 
Madagascar and Bombay cats, &c, which are temporarily 
found in that part of the old Hot-house saved from the 
fire of October 28, 1S76. This fire destroyed the Bell 
Tower, the Porcelain Building, two hot-houses and many 
valuable plants. 

As the flames spread towards the south end of the hot- 
houses, the heat and smoke caused the monkeys so to 
chatter and screech as to bring the aid of those attempt- 
ing to stay the flames. Many of the smaller monkeys 
were removed to the nearest convenient quarters, which 
happened to be the ice-house, and there allowed to cool 
oft'. 

The African porcupine, Bristling Porcus (with one of 
whose quills Ave now do write), spread himself in such a 
touch-me-if-you-dare fashion that those who came to help 
save his life were afraid of their own lives, and therefore 
allowed him and the older monkeys to stay where they 
were; but, fortunately, the fire was put out before it de- 
stroyed the house they occupied. 

The smallest monkey in the collection is named Silly. 
She is now an invalid, and weak physically as well as 
mentally. 

The drab ring-tail monkey hangs by his tail, is gentle, 



H 



Guide to the 



observant, and will pick jour pocket so amiably that you 
are willing to let him do it again. He is from Brazil, and 
is called Dom Pedro. 

The dark, medium-sized monkey is called Jerry. He is 
very quick, and delights in stealing feathers from the hats 
of lady visitors, or sampling their dress trimmings. He 
will forcibly exhibit his dislike of such as do not dress to 
suit him, by jumping against the wire netting as if he 
wished to tear to tatters the offending dress. 

The large gray male monkey is called Napoleon, He has 
Bridget^ the red-faced washerwoman monkey, for his 
wife, and in their cage should be, but seldom is, found 
Bridget's baby, the monkey Prince Imperial. 

The lady-like gray monkey, Emperess Josephine, dis- 
carded wife of the gray Napoleon, is in the cage with 
Crapo, the most dignified of all the monkeys. This 
Crapo, quiet yet quick as lightning, has many times 
jumped through the open door and escaped as the custo- 
dian came to feed him. 

On one occasion, as the coolness of night came on, he 
returned within a mile of his home, and climbed into an 
open window, and alarmed the inmates of the house, who 
were awakened by the noise apparently of burglars in the 
" spare chamber." When the householder opened the cham- 
ber door to investigate the noise, Crapo was not the only 



Ridge Hill Farms. 15 

one frightened, and the door was quickly closed and locked, 
and Cra-po occupied " the guest chamber" until daylight, 
when he left by the open window, glad to return to his 
home. On another escapade he visited a school-house 
about one mile from home, and entered the room occupied 
by forty boy and girl pupils. The teacher told her pupils 
to attend to their studies and not notice the monkey, and 
possibly he would -leave. But Cra/o, in one of those 
animal freaks which either ' ; just happen" or are caused by 
animal reason, sprang for the teacher's desk, which she 
quickly yielded and rushed for the open door, followed by 
her little flock. CraJ>o, deserted, and slighted in his first 
attempt at teaching, joined the outside crowd of pupils. 
One of the largerboys picked up a stick with which to pro- 
tect himself; Crafio, noticing this, made grimaces at 
the offender, jumped and caught him, tore away his jack- 
et in three pieces, and made off with the stick. 

The impressive studies this day, in animated nature, 
will doubtless be rehearsed by these pupils to their chil- 
dren and grandchildren, with as much interest as the 
story of Mai-y's little lamb at school. This old red school- 
house has recently been purchased, and now makes part 
of the Ridge Hill Farms. 

Bipeds wishing to practise gymnastics, or other elevated 



1 6 Git id e to the 



studies, must make early application for admission to Cra- 
■pd's School. 

The red foxes in the goat enclosure are called Winnie 
Red and R 'eddy Winner. 

The names of the goats are Nannie-xvkite Goatee and 
Charley-black Goatee. 

The numerous dogs on the estate, at night will come 
when least expected, and offer their services without being 
called by any name. 

The carrier pigeons, making their home on the car- 
riage-house near the Registry Office, are of the dragon 
species, and of direct descent from those employed at the 
siege of Paris. Trustingly they will come to your feet 
to receive a crumb of comfort, as those fed by order of the 
authorities of the city of Venice. They are called Carrie 
Xota, Gettie Xota, Papa, Mamma, Sister and Brother 
Nota. 

The swans are named Mr. and Mrs. Srvan-nie Black, 
Mr. and Mrs. Sxvan-nie White, and Miss White-head. 

The names of the black bears in the Circular Bear-Pit 
are as follows : Old Lady Brozvn, Black Nero, young, 
active, treacherous ; Sitting Bull, because he has a fancy 
for sitting on his haunches ; and Big Black Bruiser. 

The Madagascar cat in the monkey-cage, grunts like the 
pig, has wool like the llama, tail like a cat, and has feet 



Ridge Hill Farms. 17 

and springs like a monkey. The Bombay cat is quiet, but 
the monkeys sadly repent playing with Black Bomba's 
tail, as they play with Madagascar Charlie. 

Polly Gray, the African parrot in the Hot-house, will 
impress you with the statement that she is a "pretty 
Polly." 

Another curious occupant of this old Hot-house is the 
Diamond Beetle, from Mexico, which, upon being sprin- 
kled with water, will (in the dark) illumine a large room 
by its phophorescent eyes, which shine like emeralds of the 
finest quality. This beetle lives on fruits, and a proces- 
sion of them in a dark night would outshine any torch- 
light festival that mortals ever got up. Some Spanish 
ladies dress their hair with these living phosphorescent 
beetles, confined in lace nets, which dazzle in emerald bril- 
liancy any diamonds or other expensive jewels ever found. 

In the Octagon Bear-Pit will be found, in the month of 
September, if life be spared, two Seneca bear cubs, now 
on their way north. They were captured in April, when 
only a few days old, by Lucius Carrier, a native of Con- 
necticut, on Cow Creek, Indian River, Brevard County, 
Florida. Since the purchase of these cubs, August 11, by 
the proprietor of Ridge Hill Farms, the writer has made 
diligent search, but can find no description of these bears 
in any of the numerous books on Natural History. 



iS Guide to tht 



Though differing from, they come the nearest under the 
head of the Spectacled bear, which inhabits the great 
mountain range extending through the whole of the 
South American Continent, and which are specified very 
briefly by Arnold and Samuels as having been largely 
known as the most beautiful of all bears, but of whose 
habits nothing has been recorded by naturalists. An ex- 
tended interview with Mr. Carrier elicited the following 
interesting facts : The Seneca bears are well known in Bre- 
vard County, Florida. Their fur is smooth, and the dress 
hair-coat, light mouse color, which is hidden, as they ma- 
ture in age, by a coarser growth of a darker shade. There 
is an iron-gray shade from the nostril back to the eyes. 
The eyes are smaller than those of other bears, and do not 
show any order of excitement under which the animal 
may be laboring. Fear or annoyance is first indicated by 
the throwing back of the ears, which are larger, wider 
spread and more erect than those of other bears. The 
female is always so peculiarly marked that it seems im- 
possible for these bears to have existed in this or any 
age without some poetical legend describing the Avhite 
fur only found at the breast, and there in the shape of 
a perfect heart.* 



* Wanted for exposition in the Flirtation Tunnel, a perfect heart, 
not only in shape, but in action. 



Ridge Hill Farms. 19 

Will not Longfellow, Holmes and Whittier join hands 
and give us a triplet poem concerning the wonders of the 
fairy-land in Brevard County, Florida? 

Within the confines of this range of ridges can be 
found the ivory-bill woodpecker, described by Audubon, 
the existence of which has been doubted by some orni- 
thologists. And a profusion of the modest and of the gor- 
geous flowers, from the brilliant variegated grasses and 
their blooms, up to the royal palm, found only in Florida, 
the penalty, by special act of Congress, for destroying 
any one of which is twenty years' imprisonment. 

Here also is found a calcareous deposit — millions of 
shells — known as koqueno, which are connected together 
bv the action of the elements, in the form of ridges and 
caverns, great boulders of which, weighing two hun- 
dred tons, are undermined by the tides and washed away. 

Tropical fruits are no less profuse, rich and varied. Its 
fauna are varied and beautiful, from the black and gold 
grasshopper, the owl which catches the food, while the 
gopher stands on the watch, and the snake defends their 
triune home, up to the mocking-bird, brilliant-feathered 
songster, and these Seneca, the most wonderful of all the 
bear family, which are next of kin to the fiorcus family, 
acknowledged as intuitively the most susceptible of edu- 
cation. Possibly these bears are very properly named as in 



20 Guide to the 



direct descent from the old sage Seneca. Did he ever visit 
Flori-da? which in its profusion of beauties must differ 
from that of every other spot on this terrestrial sphere, and 
most resemble that of the old Garden of Eden. Will not 
the Mayor of Boston, and all the other city officials, Coun- 
cil and Aldermen, who voted to run ferry-boats to and 
from East Boston free to all the world, in order to increase 
the passenger travel to Europe by the Cunard steamships, 
and value of the wharf property of Noddle-Islanders, and 
save them (the owners) two cents ferriage when they 
come to the city proper to make money from those who 
pay nine tenths of the taxes, — will not, we repeat, these 
^peculiar officials give all other Bostonians a free excursion 
trip to Brevard County, Florida, and charge it to the Pub- 
lic Health Department? Please engross such an act of 
sanitary duty (?) at once, and not refer our petition to 
those who may occupy your official seats after the next 
election. We want to dig for the old pottery, which, to 
the depth of fifteen feet or more, is abundant in Brevard 
County. We want to examine the great earth-mounds 
having a full-form skeleton of one who must have been 
from seven to nine feet in height, surrounded in a circle 
by an immense number of human skeleton arms, legs 
and bodies, lopped apart. We wish to know if we can 
regard the St. John, the Indian, or the Oclawaha Rivers 



Rid o-e Hill Farms. 21 



as once the Euphrates, and this region as the apple- 
orchard of Adam and Eve. We wish to sit at night by 
the Life-Saving Station, told us as on the narrow neck 
of land between the Indian River and the Atlantic, and 
watch these Seneca bears who come to the sea-shore about 
the 20th of May, and tramp, tramp, tramp up and down 
the miles of beach until September 1, living upon crabs, 
the eggs of loggerhead turtles, and removing the corks 
from and drinking the contents of such bottles (said 
to be numerous) as float ashoi'e, thrown overboard from 
the steamships going south, which vessels, to avoid 
steering against the northern tide of the Gulf Stream, 
get shoreward into the counter-current flowing south. 
We wish to follow the bear tracks as the human species, 
and the deer, coon, and other animals do to the fresh-water 
pools, which these bruins know best where to find, and 
how deep to dig : six inches sometimes will be fresh water, 
and twelve inches salt water. If we cannot go, please 
send our poets, and let them weave us a yarn concerning 
these wonderful beauties, and we will read it while con- 
templating the Seneca bears Adam and Eve, in the Octo- 
gon Bear-Pit at Ridge Hill Farms. 

The Seneca bears when fully grown will vary in weight 
from 600 to 1200 pounds. If wounded, they will apply dirt 
to the part lacerated. Their bump of caution is promi- 



22 Guide to the 



nent, they mistrust every one. They are slow but sure in 
their movements. While pursuing investigations con- 
cerning Seneca bears, the writer accidentally met with a 
taxidermist from Nova Scotia, who states that one of 
these Seneca bears, as herein described, with the white 
hair outline of a heart, was shot 200 miles from St. John, 
and sent to him to be taxidermisted, a few months since. 
The animal has never before been seen or heard of in 
Canada, and consequently was regarded with great won- 
der. As these Senecas are from the warm or equatorial 
regions, how did he get as far north ? Can it be that 
there is some outlet in Nova Scotia from the Simms hole, 
which is said to run from the north pole through the sub- 
terranean fires, to the south pole? Leaving you to decide 
this matter, we leave this harping on the bear family, with 
the advice to such ladies as wish to hunt, capture or de- 
stroy - him. to strike their snout, and, in the expressive lan- 
guage of a Pacific-coast hunter Ave have just interviewed, 
" rip open their stomach with a jack-knife." If you wish 
to get away, never ascend, but always descend, a hill, as the 
bears never descend a tree or precipice head downward, and 
always run down a hill in a ziz-zag course. They are so 
sensitive at the diaphragm as to be partially paralyzed if 
they descend a tree or precipice head first. When they 
fight, they prefer to stand erect on their hind feet. But their 



Ridge Hill Farms. 23 

most effective mode is while on their backs, so they can 
scratch, hug and tear with their hind feet. 

On this 21st of August, another and beautiful specimen of 
the Parrot species has been added to the collection at Ridge 
Hill Farms. It is of the semi-cockatoo order — gray body 
plumage, rose feathers encircling the neck, and a salmon 
shade the crest. This brilliant bird was caught by B. F. 
Curtis, at Hough's Neck Promontory, skirting Quincy Bay, 
on land belonging to John Quincy Adams. It was con- 
tending against an attack of twelve king-birds, assisted by 
several blackbirds, who evidently recognized him as a gay- 
looking foreigner not yet naturalized, whom they were at- 
tempting to subjugate when rescued by Samaritan Curtis. 
The town of Quincy made curiosity calls to see the res- 
cued, but no one claimed him as his pet, and he was 
regarded, by reason of his wild ways, as having escaped 
from the ship which emigrated him from his African home. 
He evidently had heard of the national-executive Adams 
family, and though of African birth, yet believed that 
his gray uniform would win him protection from the 
preying blackbirds who were sorely oppressing him. This 
bird speaks only in an unknown tongue — niggerish-gib- 
berish. As he will probably soon speak for himself in the 
American naturalized tongue, calling himself a "pretty 
Polly," he has been already named after the great Roman 



2 4 



Guide to the 



orator, Rosciits, to which pre-nom the family name of 
Quincv is added to appropriately designate all his descend- 
ants as originating from this imported African, who placed 
himself under the protectorate of the American Statesmen 
Adams, whose acts and domain at once spot them as worthy 
descendants of Adam's and Eve's Garden of Eden. 

Near the Pavilion Hall are also found Mushroom Seats 
from the French Department, Centennial Exhibition. The 
best effect of any seats on the ground is had from those 
placed near the junction of Pavilion Grove and Ridge- 
wav Avenue opposite Minnehaha's Wigwam. 

In this Sweet-Water Wigwam will be found a series of 
eight paintings portraying the evils of Intemperance, and 
also two stereoscopic pictures of Minnehaha, to change 
which, press the two buttons on each side of the box in 
which they arc found. 

Leaving this Wigwam, we reach Our Boys' Gar- 
den. The Play-House and store here found is for the 
sale of souvenir quills or feathers from the porcupine, pea- 
cocks, parrots, swans, &c., at Ridge Hill Farms, and to 
teach the children, by practical lessons in the first princi- 
ples of business, value of money, keeping accounts, &c. 
One tenth of the proceeds to be devoted to such charity as 
they shall designate. 

Here will also be found all that remains of the Devil's 



Ridge Hill Farms. 



Dex. This was constructed of one thousand old railroad 
sleepers, for the Re-Union Good-Cheer Fete given June 
19, 1S75. It was so called because five attendants dressed 
as devils — aptly representing their employment — here 
served claret punch to three thousand guests from the 
Southern States, visiting Boston to participate at the 
Bunker Hill Centennial. During the past winter an 
ice-house has been built in this Devil's Den. 

Near the enclosure for the foxes and goat teams will be 
found a curious specimen plant known as the Dcmonificd 
Cercus, from Simms' Hole near the Equator. During 
"warm and pleasant weather this plant blossoms four or five 
times in each hour, which almost instantly close or fall 
to the ground. 

The North Division of the Floral Art Garden — that 
between the Chapel and Hot-houses — was a vegetable 
garden in the early spring of 1S75. 

The South Division, with the balustrade bordering on 
Pavilion Grove, was covered with pear trees and small 
fruit plants in January of the present year ; since which 
time all of them have been moved, and the walks, grass- 
plots and floral beds made. 

The three Arches at the south or trellis part of this 
Floral Art Garden are from the Italian Department, Cen- 
tennial Exhibition. 



26 Guide to the 



Jfotttln 6avden. 

The visitor's attention will be attracted on Floral Avenue 
by the chain border of foliage plants, consisting of $yre- 
thrum aurciim, alternanthcra spathnlata and ccheveria 
secu?ida glauca, relieved by gravels of various colors, and 
by the festooning of verbenas in variety on the opposite side. 

The Conservatory part of the new Hot-houses, that 
crowned by the cupola and agave plant, is entered from 
the north side. That part of the Hot-houses devoted to 
raising fruits is not open to visitors. During the latter 
part of the season of 1S76 some inconsiderate vandal 
climbed in at the window and took therefrom every one of 
the ripe peaches from three specimen trees. Of this order 
of intruders of the present season was Bridget, the gray 
monkey, who broke the glass and cut her hand, yet not so 
seriously as to say-she-ate her appetite until she had finished 
a large cluster of Hamburg grapes. 

The Mosaic Garden is on the south side of the unpre- 
tending summer home of the owner of the estate. Here 
are found plats of echevcria and other plants arranged in 
unique designs to harmonize with a mosaic made of bits 
of white porcelain, black coal, red brick and blue glass. 
The Claude Lorraine mirrors revolve so as to reflect the 
picturesque of the Mosaic and Art Gardens. 

In the Mosaic Garden will be found the Dana'idia7i 



Ridge Hill Farms. 27 



Fon?ztaiu, the statue of a female figure with an urn, flowing 
water into the Amymonc Basin. It is named from the 
mythological legend of Danaiis, son of Belus, who was 
King of Libya about the year B.C. 15S0. He had fifty 
daughters, known as '* The Danaides." His brother 
yEgyptus (Rameses), King of Arabia, and, by conquest, of 
Egypt, had fifty sons, who plotted to destroy their uncle 
and get his kingdom. Aided by the goddess Minerva, 
Danaiis built a fifty-oared vessel and fled with his daugh- 
ters to Argos (Greece) , and became its king. This country 
of Argos was extremely deficient in pure and wholesome 
water. Danaiis set forth with his daughters in quest of 
some. While Amymone, one of the daughters, was en- 
gaged in the search, she was rescued by Neptune from the 
intended violence of a satyr, and the god revealed to her 
a fountain, since called after her name. These springs 
are Lake Lerna, where Hercules killed the nine-headed 
hydra, and which fed the waters of the Danube. The 
sonsof yEgyptus came to Argolis and entreated their uncle 
to bury past enmity in oblivion and to give them their 
cousins in marriage. Danaiis, distrustful of their promi- 
ses, apparently consented, and the Danaides were divided 
among them by lot. But on the wedding day Danaiis 
armed the hands of the brides with daggers, and enjoined 
upon them to slay, in the night, their unsuspecting bride- 



28 Guide to the 



grooms. All but Hypermnertra obeyed, and tbe heads 
of their husbands were thrown into Lake Lerna. At 
the command of Jupiter, Mercury and Minerva purified 
them from the guilt of their deed. Danaiis proclaimed 
gymnastic games in which the victors were to receive his 
forty-nine remaining daughters as prizes. Samuel Weller 
had probably read the doings of these forty-nine widows, 
which led him to caution his son against all " vidders." 

It is said, however, that the crime of the Dana'ides 
did not pass without due punishment in Hades, where 
they were condemned to draw water forever with per- 
forated vessels. Thus the statue of a female, bent as 
if by continued work, placed in the Amymone Basin, 
Mosaic Garden, at Ridge Hill Farms, is intended to memo- 
rialize the mythology of ancient time — 1600 B.C. — the 
urn. held by the female figure, through which passes the 
overflow water from the Water Tower, symbolizing the per- 
forated vessels used by the Dana'ides in their eternal work. 

The basins, fountains, buildings, &c, of these Upper 
G rou /ids have a high-service water supply from the 
Water Tower, one hundred feet high, surmounted by 
the statue of Neptune, eleven feet high, seen in the 
distance south of the Pavilion Grove. This tower is 
built of red brick, with six arches, in form of a Grecian 
temple. The capacity of the tank is 50,000 gallons. 



Ridge Hill Farms. 29 

This reservoir is filled with water by the large Eclipse 
Windmill 1 thirty feet diameter, on the ornamental Wood 
Tower, ninety feet high. This Windmill Tower is 
located on the Charity Reservation (350 acres). 

The aggregate length of the main and branch pipes 
(which are of wood and from one to six inches in diam- 
eter) connecting the Windmill and Water Tower, foun- 
tains, buildings, animal enclosures and to the overflow in 
Sabrina Lake, is over five miles. 

The Camp John Adams, for the Southern Guests at the 
seven-day Fraternal Welcome Fete commencing July S, 
1S76, was on the Sunset Slope, west of the Mosaic Garden 
and of Grove Street. 

Here will be found a cannon which was bought in Liv- 
erpool by English sympathizers with the South in 1S61. 
It was run through the blockade, used by the Confederates, 
captured by the United States forces, recaptured by the 
South, and, while in use, a shell from the Northern forces 
struck it in the muzzle, lodged there, and disabled it. 

In recognition of the social re-union hospitalities in 
Wellesley, in June, 1S75, and in Charleston, S.C., in Janu- 
ary, 1876, this cannon was presented to the host in Welles- 
ley, and led to the following correspondence : — 



30 Guide to tJic 



Bostox, June 3, 1S76. 
R. C. Gilchrist, 

Commander Washington Light Infantry., 

Charleston, S.C. 

Dear Sir, — Your kind favor of May 29th is this evening 
received, informing me that, bj r Resolutions of the Wash- 
ington Light Infantry of Charleston, S.C, you forward to 
me a Blakely (Gun), rifled, used by the Confederate army 
in the -, late unpleasantness," and disabled by a cannon- 
ball striking it in the muzzle and lodging there. 

This Cannon has reached me, and I shall highly value 
this muzzled war-fiend which you now so kindly level at me. 
I shall plant it at my Ridge Hill Farms in Wellesley, 
where I invite you, who stood behind it, to meet those 
who stood before it and shake hands over it. Will you 
not come, with your command, immediately on leaving 
the Philadelphia Centennial, or at some other time this 
summer, and accept a farmer's commissariat for one week 
at my Wellesley home? I shall be pleased to receive, also 
informally, and entertain in like fashion, as many of those 
ladies accompanying the members of your command to 
Philadelphia as can be persuaded to accept of farm-house 
accommodations which I will specially allot to them. 

Awaiting your response, and thanking you for your 
Big-Gun remembrance, I am at your service, 

WM. E. BAKER. 



Ridge Hill Farms. 31 

Headquarters W. L. L, Charleston, S.C., 

June 9, 1876. 
Col. William E. Baker, Trcmont St., Boston. 

Colonel, — Your hospitable invitation to the Washing- 
ton Light Infantry to visit the Ridge Hill Farms in Welles- 
ley immediately on leaving Philadelphia, to accept a farm- 
er's commissariat one week at your Wellesley home, was 
presented at a meeting of the company last evening; and 
I am instructed to inform you of their grateful apprecia- 
tion of your kindness, and that as many of the command 
as can spare the time will be happy to accept your invita- 
tion. We hope, also, that several of our ladies will ac- 
company us. 

Truly and respectfully yours, 

R. C. GILCHRIST, 

Capt. Comd'g IV. L. I. 

Upon this acceptance of the invitation extended to the 
Washington Light Infantry, invitations were extended to 
the Clinch Rifles of Augusta Ga., the Fayetteville Inde- 
pendent Light Infantry of North Carolina, the officers of 
the Richmond Commandery Knight Templars No. 2 of 
Virginia, the Norfolk Light Artillery Blues of Virginia, 
the officers of the Washington Light Infantry of Wash- 
ington, D. C, the officers of the Fifth Regiment Maryland 



32 Guide to tlie 



National Guard of Baltimore, Md., and the officers of the 
" Old Guard" of New York city, with such ladies as could 
be persuaded to accompany them, to encamp for one week 
as guests at Ridge Hill Farms. Representative delega- 
tions of these organizations accepted the invitation : — so 
that the aggregate number of guests entertained for the 
week was about two hundred and fifty, and on the 7th or 
Charity Day, three thousand. 

A general committee of fifty, including the Governor 
and Ex-Governor of the State, the Mayor and President of 
the Board of Aldermen of Boston, the General command- 
ing the Forts in New England, Collector of the Port, 
President of the Board of Trade, and other prominent citi- 
zens, co-operated with the host in extending a welcome to 
the Southern guests, who arrived in Boston, July 8, 1S76, 
and received a perfect ovation from the populace while 
being escorted to breakfast in Faneuil Hall, where they 
were welcomed by speeches from the Governor, A. H. 
Rice, the Mayor of Boston, and others. 

On their reaching Ridge Hill Farms the host very in- 
formally received his guests on Conservatory Lawn, and 
expressed the hope that they would immediately make 
themselves at home. Quarters were assigned the military 
in the Camp John Adams, which was formed in a hollow 
square, — composed of 137 wall tents and several pavilion 



Ridge Hill Farms. 33 



marquees — laid out into streets, designated by the flags 
and names of the different visiting organizations. Wood 
pipes were specially laid in these streets, supplied with 
water from the Tank Tower, two thirds of a mile away. 
The lady and civilian guests were lodged in the Virginia 
Lodge, the Singed-Cat Cottage, and various other houses 
on the estate. A full description of the fun, frolic and 
excursions at the seven-day Fraternal Welcome Fete 
will be published in '* The Fetes at Ridge Hill Farms," 
illustrated, subscriptions for which will be received at the 
Registry Office in aid of the fund to establish the Boston 
Food Dispensary. 

Entering Sunset Slope, on the left is the platform that 
served as the headquarters of the Camp John Adams. 

This platform is now in process of being so covered with 
a structure of wood and metal as to be permanent, and 
will be painted to resemble an Army Headquarters Mar- 
quee. 

This is to be the Union Monument to commemorate 
the United North and South. The conception of the pro- 
prietor of the estate is as follows : The four-sided roof 
will be bristling with one. thousand bayonets used in the 



34 Guide to the 



late strife between the North and the South. On the apex 
of the cone of bayonets will be placed a white dove hold- 
ing in its beak a sprig of olive-leaves. At the side en- 
trance will be a soldier guard ; one with a blue and the 
other with a gray uniform. Inside is to be placed, when 
finished by the artist, a large oil-painting representing a 
volunteer soldier uniformed in the United States service 
blue, clasping with his left hand the right hand of his aili- 
anced. a " Southern belle" (daughter of an active partici- 
pant in the Southern cause, born in South Carolina), 
while the soldier represented by the Confederate gray 
uniform grasps with his left hand the right hand of his 
affianced, a •'Northern belle''' (daughter of a prominent 
General in the Northern forces, born in Massachusetts). 
Each of these two representative soldiers from the North 
and the South holds in the right hand a drawn sword, 
both of which are raised and crossed over the heads of, as 
if swearing protection to, their affianced. 

The shadowy face and form of General Robert E. Lee is 
to be seen on one side of this quartette group as if crown- 
ing approval of the union of hearts and union of hopes, 
while that of General U. S. Grant is similarly represented 
on the other side. 

Prominent in view will be seen the creed — " Liberty of 
Conscience, " " Faith, Hope and Charity." 



Ridge Hill Farms. 35 

When this Union Monument is finished, there is to be 
placed in it a sketch (which, until the headquarters are 
completed, will remain in the boat-house) hastily painted 
in one day ; copied from a small photograph of a figure 
moulded life-size by a sculptor in Christiana, to form one 
part of the group he has submitted as his design for a 
monument to be erected in Boston, by the Committee of 
Bostonians who have the matter in charge (one of which 
Committee is the owner of this estate), to commemorate 
the first discovery and settlement of America by the Norse- 
men about the year a.d. iooo. 

It is possible that the design of this Norwegian sculptor 
or that of some other, may be erected in some form on 
camp John Adams, in the spring of 187S or before. 

It is now well established that the Norsemen visited our 
American Continent long before the time of Columbus ; 
coasting down from Greenland, passing along Cape Cod, 
through Vineyard Sound, to Narragansett Bay, in our 
Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 

Leif Ericson, son of Eric the Red, discovered, named 
and landed at Vineland (now Martha's .Vineyard) in the 
year a.d. iooo. It was so named from the profusion of 
grape-vines there found. He built houses, and wintered at 
Leifsbooths. 

He returned to Greenland in 1001 ; and Thorwald bor- 



36 Guide to the 



rowed his brother Leif's ship and landed at Leifsbooths, 
and passed the winter of 1002-3.* 

Thorstein, Eric's third son, fitted out the same ship to 
bring back the body of his brother. His wife Goodrida 
went with him; a storm drove them to Greenland, where 
he died, and his wife returned to Ericsford. She married 
Thorfinn, a wealthy man of illustrious lineage, and per- 
suaded him to undertake a voyage, and establish a colony 
in Vineland. He arrived with 160 colonists at Leifsbooths- 
Hop (now Mt. Hope Bay, Massachusetts), in 1007. In 
100S Goodrida gave birth to a son, who received the name 
of Snorre. 

Bishop Thorlak. who was the son of the daughter of this 
Snorre, was born a.d. 10S5, an ^ died a.d. 1133. He is 
reported as the probable author of the Icelandic Sagas, 
which give an account of these discoveries, which were 
written and on record in the twelfth century (more than 
three hundred years previous to the landing of Columbus. 



* Thorwald was killed by an arrow at Kialarnes (Keel Cape, or Cape 
Cod) in the summer of 1004, in a fight with the Esquimau Indians who 
then roamed in these regions. He was buried at a place called, at his 
dying request, Crossness. 

There was found in Fall River, about the beginning of the present 
century, a human skeleton, encased in armor, supposed by many to be 
that of Thorwald. Longfellow has immortalized this by his poem " The 
Skeleton in Armor." 



Ridge Hill Farms. 37 

The minute exactness of the record, giving the time of the 
rising and setting of the sun, variations of high and low 
water, the rapidity of the currents, the outlines of the 
coast, the naming of many places by the Norwegian word 
Holl (hill), which has been corrupted to Hole — as Woods' 
Hole — the number of days' sail from Greenland, and other 
conclusive evidences, have proved to the satisfaction of all 
historians that the hardy and roving Norwegians first set- 
tled North America, and that our good old Common- 
wealth of Massachusetts has the honor of having received 
the first imprints of European civilization. It is therefore 
our duty, and we of Massachusetts should take the initia- 
tory step towards the erection of a Memorial Monument 
to these hardy voyageicrs. 

The inscriptions cut on the famous Dighton Rock, which 
is submerged at high tide in the Taunton River, have been 
by some historians regarded as Runic characters ; among 
them Prof. Rafn, of Copenhagen, the distinguished Runic 
scholar, who translated a part of them to read *' Thorfinn 
with 151 men took possession of this country." The Ice- 
landic Sagas record that 9 of the 160 colonists separated 
from the company. But far the larger number of those 
whose researches are worthy of credence, hold to the opin- 
ion that these hieroglyphics are of Indian origin, many 
similar to them having been found in the Middle and 



3 8 Guide to the 



Western States. Drawings of these inscriptions are found 
in the " Antiquitate$ Americanos." 

The first known copy of this inscription was made 
by Dr. Danforth in 16S0, followed by Cotton Mather's in 
1712 ; Dr. Greenwood's in 1730, and by numerous others 
in the iSth and the present centuries. 

Whatever the origin of this Dighton Rock, it is one of 
the oldest archaeological relics of our country, and as such 
should be preserved from the abrasion of the tides and 
from vandalism. 

The Dighton Rock, and the land about it, was pur- 
chased by Neils Arnzen. a Norwegian residing in Fall 
River, at the request of Ole Bull, and deeded to the Royal 
Society of Antiquarians of Copenhagen, of which the 
King of Denmark is the active president, who had ex- 
pressed a decided interest in its preservation. 

This Society has recently signified its willingness to 
assign all its rights to a Committee of Bostonians consist- 
ing of Thomas G. Appleton, Rev. E. E. Hale. Prof. E. N. 
Horsford, Curtis Guild, Percival L. Everett and Wm. E. 
Baker, who solicit funds from those interested — 

First, for the erection in Boston of a Memorial Monu- 
ment to the Norsemen ; 

Secondly, for the preservation of the Dighton Rock as 
a valuable archaeological relic, be it Indian or Runic. 



Ridge Hill Farms. 39 



In this Union Monument will be found (and, until 
it is finished, in the boat-house) a large oil-painting of 
" The Ambuscade of the Racketers by the Pillow Brigade." 
This scene represents a night ever memorable to those in 
camp John Adams at the time of the Fraternal Welcome 
Fete. One portion of the camp formed a Racket Club, 
whose duties were to assemble at midnight and keep the 
rest of the camp from sleep the remainder of the night; 
and they succeeded admirably until, on the night of Mon- 
day, July 10, the Club, armed with two hundred wood rat- 
tles, sixty large brass bells and numerous tin horns, were 
returning, about midnight, from giving a serenade to the 
South Carolina ladies in the " Singed-Cat Cottage," when 
they were surprised by all the rest of the camp, under 
the command of Major W. T. Geary and Judge H. D. D. 
Twiggs, of Augusta, Ga. ; D. P. Robertson, of Charleston, 
S. C, commanding the centre; and the right wing under 
that of George B. Edwards, of Charleston, and of " Chap- 
lain "Hall, better known as " the gentleman from North 
Carolina." 

This ambuscade force had armed themselves with their 
bed-pillows, and hid behind the walls by the roadside. 
The surprise was complete. The thuds of the pillows 
descending upon the heads of the Racketers, was the first 
notice of the attack, and the Racketers soon measured their 



40 Guide to the 



length and left their impressions in the mud on the road. 
Recovering somewhat, they however rose to the emergency 
and captured many pillows; but in the dark, having no 
distinguishing badge, all those having pillows were re- 
garded as opponents, and thus many Racketers were 
fiercely contending with their own party. The contest 
raged fiercely for twenty minutes. The prostrate Racket- 
ers rolled the mud hard and dry. The ground was strewn 
with rackets, bells and tin horns. The Pillow Brigade 
finally conquered — but only for that night. 

The host finally converted the Racketers into A-Rousing 
Band, to give early matinee concerts, and arouse the camp 
for breakfast. 

Their work on the morning of the Floral and other days 
of that fete, will be recorded in the "Fetes at Ridge Hill 
Farms." 

In the basement of this Union Monument Headquar- 
ters (which measures 25x60 feet), are two targets, one 
of an Indian, life size, who, upon being shot in the heart, 
raises his tomahawk, and the other of a female who beats 
a tattoo on a large drum. 

Here also are to be set thirty-six of Busch's improved 
magnifying stereoscopes, the invention of Frederic Busch, 
a native of Prussia, but adopting Boston as his home, 
who, without professing any knowledge of optics, has dis- 



Ridge Hill Farms. 41 

covered and proved the fallacy of many theories hitherto 
unquestioned. The valuable collections of objects, num- 
bering nearly two thousand selections, in natural history, 
&c, have also been secured, but these latter for the 
School of Microscopy to be established in November next 
at the Boston Aquarium, 13 West Street. 

In this monument will be seen a large painting, measur- 
ing 7 x 13 feet, portraying in front of the State House, 
Boston, a black sow — symbol of that one found astray in 
the streets of Boston in 1636 — the litigation concerning 
which was the direct cause of the organization of the higher 
branch of the Legislature, known as the Senate of Massa- 
chusetts, which was the first Senate organized in the 
United States. Gathered around the pig are seen many of 
the prominent makers of history in the times of the old 
Massachusetts Bay Colony in the 17th and iSth centuries. 
Those in the foreground include the following: — 

Governors of Massachusetts. 
John Winthrop, who held office 1 630-1 633 ; 1637-1639; 

1642-1643 ; 1646-164S. 
Henry Vane, 1636. 

John Endicott, 1644, 1649; 1655-1664. 
John Leverett, 1673-167S. 
Simon Bradstreet, 1676-1686. 
Joseph Dudley, 1702, 1714, 



42 Guide to the 



William Burnett, 17.28. 

John Hancock, 17S0-17S5; 17S7-1793. 

Samuel Adams, 1 794-1 797. 

AND 

Edward Winslow, born 1594, died 1655. 

John Davenport, 
Thomas Prince, 
John F. Winthrop, F.R.S., 
John Cotton, LL.D., 
Increase Mather, D.D., 
Cotton Mather, D.D., F.R.S. 
Benj. Coleman, 
William Coleman, 
James Otis, 
Gen. Benj. Lincoln, 
Charles Chauncv, LL.D.. 

Here will also be found, when finished by the artist 
sculptor, Herbert Gleason, of Boston, a group representing 
•' Our Old Mother Eve" as Pomona , presenting a crown- 
wreath of laurel, and an apple of gold on a salver — em- 
blem of the knowledge of Good and Evil — to one of 
Massachusetts' most 2:enial and distinguished citizens. 



i597> 


1669. 


1600. 


1673- 


163S, 


1707. 


163S, 


1699. 


i639> 


1723- 


1663, 


172S. 


i673> 


1747. 


16SS, 


i7 2 9> 


1725, 


1783.* 


1733, 


1S10. 


[747, 


1S22. 



* James Otis was born in Boston, in the year a.d. 1725. As an ora- 
tor he had to a remarkable extent that animal magnetism which electri- 
fied citizens of his time to valient acts. He was killed by lightning, in 
a.d. 17S3, while standing in the doorway of his home. 



Ridge Hill Farms. 43 



who for many, many years lias been endorsed all over the 
country by his continued re-election as the President of 
the American Pomological Society. 

When the -world shall have ceased to relish the apple, 
queen of fruits, then only shall the world cease to vener- 
ate Marshall P. Wilder, founder of the American Pomo- 
logical Society, for many years President of the Massa- 
chusetts Horticultural Society and of the Historic-Gene- 
alogical Society ; a stiring, effective and reliable man in aid- 
ing with his magnetic powers all that pertains to history, 
science, or the fruits of life. Brillart Saverin, writes 
that he who discovers a new dish is greater than he who 
discovers a new planet. Marshall P. Wilder's aim in life 
has been nobly accomplished. No man more than he has 
trained and improved the fruits of our land, and has made 
them luscious, beautiful and invigorating. Commenda- 
tion is ever in place for those whose life is so monumen- 
talized as no marble can make it, by the acts of these 
apostles to the doctrine, " By faith and works shall they 
know us." 

Reader, what are you good for ? What have you done ? 
What will you do to prove that you are of any worth in 
this world of ours ? Are you contented to prove yourself 
as only of the fungus order, rising one day and rotting 
the next? Nous verrons. 



44 Guide to the 



Here also are found several games, including skittles, 
toss-ball, &c, which, whenever the convenience of the 
owner will allow, can, upon application at the Registry 
Office, be used, the fees for their use to be applied to the 
within-specified charity; but the use of the table games 
in the Tivoli Hall or of the Bowling Alley are exclusively 
for the guests of the proprietor, and all considerate visitors 
will please discipline all such as disregard this restric- 
tion and meddle with them. 

On the right of Sunset Slope is the Chilian Pavilion, 
from the Philadelphia Centennial ; its sixteen arches rep- 
resenting the sixteen departments in Chili. 

On or about this site in 1S72 wore four large barns and 
other farm accessories. These were moved away, herd- 
yards filled, slopes graded, and the five grass-sod Terraces, 
lour hundred feet in length, formed. On reaching the 
Octagon Bear-Pit turn to the left — south — down to Ter- 
race Avenue. Turn to the right on Terrace Avenue to the 
Gnome Drinking- Fountain at the base of the Bear Pit.* 

Looking west toward the water of Sabrina Lake you see 
Swan Island, one half acre, and on it the little church 
marked, on its roof, '"The Church for good little ducks." 



* Gentlemen's Walk at the j.unction of Sunset Slope and Terrace 
Avenues. 

Ladies' Cottage — Terrace Avenue near Octagon Bear-Pit. 



Ridge Hill Fa?'ins. 45 

Turn into the footpath by the Arboretum Knoll to 
the Arboretum Basin, which is built of red brick, sixty 
feet in diameter ; it is encircled with a three-inch copper 
tube, so pierced that eight hundred fine jets of water can 
be ejected, curving upward and inwardly towards the 
Spray Fountain; which fountain, when in play, throws 
five hundred jets curving outwardly. These thirteen hun- 
dred jets form one combined mass of water, spray and 
mist, sixty feet in diameter and forty feet in height, which 
in the sunlight shows the colors of the rainbow. The 
fountain is fifteen feet in height, with four basins, one 
above the other; between the first and second basins are 
grouped four statues, as follows : Powers' Greek Slave, 
Thorwaldsen's Venus, Pradier's Venus, and Urania. 

Between the second and third basins there are three metal 
Amphytrions from the balcony of the Boston Theatre ; 
above the third basin is a group with Hebe pitchers. 

Pass this Spray Fountain, and follow the footpath by 
the side of the Arboretum Knoll to the Arboretum 
Lodge, constructed of many thousands of small rounds 
of cedar (stop and count them). Descend the steps of the 
Arboretum Lodge to the edge of the lake, and, looking 
back to the west side of Arboretum Knoll, there can be 
seen, placed upon two dead limbs of a tree, three 
small Churches for swallows and other birds, which 



46 Guide to the 



are marked, according to their respective elevation, '■'•High 
Church ." "Middle Church ," ' i Lozv Church.," — "all on the 
same root.*' Crossing Arboretum Lodge bridge, the visitor 
reaches Tri-Pont (three bridge) Island, two acres in 
area; its second being the Rustic Bridge at the north 
end, and its third, the Coliseum Bridge, one hundred 
and sixty feet long, at the west side. This latter bridge is 
so named because the heavy timber composing it was 
first used by the city of Boston in constructing the tem- 
porary bridges over the Providence Railroad connecting 
Dartmouth and Berwick Park Streets with the Peace 
Jubilee Coliseum of 1S72. 

In the Medallions on the south side of this Coliseum 
Bridge are the heads of ApoTlo and Diana % and on the 
north side those of Ariadne and Silenus.* 

The granite curbing of the basin lor the Frog Fountain 



* The latter a semi-god, the nurse, the preceptor and the attendant of 
Bacchus, who was very fond of him. .Midas, King of Thracia, cap- 
tured him once and put various questions to him, among others, " What 
is best for men? " After a long silence he received for answer, " Life- 
is most free from pain when one is ignorant of future evils. It is best 
of all for man not to be born; the second is for those |\vho are born to 
die as soon as possible. " 

For releasing him Bacchi s promised Midas to grant any request which 
he chose to ask. Midas craved that all he touched might turn to gold; 
but was glad to have that power revoked when he found himself on the 
point of starving:. 



Ridge Hill Farms. 47 

on this Tri-Pont Island originally formed three enclosures 
in front of the Masonic Temple, Boston, corner of Tre- 
mont and Boylston Streets. 

The Boat-House, 20x30 feet, on Tri-Pont Island is made 
from the ornamental Gothic shelving ordered for the St. 
George Cafe, Masonic Temple, Boston. The architect 
who originated the design did not recognize his own work 
in its adaptation by the removal of the shelving and using 
the Gothic frame as the side-walls of the Boat-house. 

This Boat-house has two niches on each of three sides, 
for which statues of appropriate size not being readily 
attainable, the owner solved the difficulty by selecting 
subjects from an Art book, and had his artist sketch 
and his carpenter cut the outline from boards. These 
were painted and shaded in relief so that this board stat- 
uary is quite deceptive. 

On the east or water-end of the Boat-house there are 
three doors for the exit and admission of the boats ; two 
niches with fret-saw statuary, Italianized, of Psyche Med- 
itive, and Clio; and seven oil-paintings, representing — 

The Frog Concert on an English Steamship. 

Moonlight Courtship in the Gondola. The Hog dressed 
as the Doge of Venice, accompanied by his Pig page de- 
scending the palace steps to his gondola. 



4S Guide to the 

Penelope, Cinderella, Sappho and S Hants. 

On the south side in the two niches. Melpome7ie and the 
Lute-player. 

On the six panels: — Bears as Italian piffcrari, the fe- 
male bear dressed in Albanian costume, dancing the tar- 
antella. 

Thomas Cat inviting Mrs. Pussy to a boat-ride on Sa- 
brina Lake. 

Descent from Olympus, Desolation, Fortuna, and Venus 
rising from the Sea. 

On the west end or land entrance are two panel paint- 
ings; one showing the Hydropathic Treatment, by an 
upset on Sabrina Lake, and the other " The taking of the 
Shu (observations) on an English Ocean Steamship. " 

On the north side, in the two niches, Bayadere and 
Ganymede ; and on the seven panels, Nereide riding on a 
Ram of the Golden Fleece, Twilight, Dawn of Morning, 
Cupid drawn by two Deer, Meum et Tiium, or the bather 
who saved his shirt and is anxious to give the monkeys 
/its who borrowed his boat and clothing. 

Bruin's Separation from his Bear-wife when going to 
Sea with his Green Umbrella. The Arrival of the Irish- 
man, Scotchman, Englishman and Yankee. 

The Yankee, of course, is the first ashore, and tb*"t be- 



Ridge Hill Farms. 49 



l <i> 



fore the hawsers of the steamship are made fast. He 
takes a bold step, as if he knew just where he was going. 

The Scotchman strokes his beard, and methodically 
plans his departure, from which an earthquake or a vol- 
canic eruption can divert him only long enough to cal- 
culate the loss by the desolation, and how much he can 
get by a sale of the debris. 

The Irishman waits to find where the others go, and 
then he means to follow, hunt up a drap of "mountain 
dew," help build a church, and remit funds to bring over 
the '' rist of the family." 

The Englishman is in no hurry to move. He contem- 
plates the fact that he has arrived, and wonders where the 
best chop-house is to be found. He is aware that the 
Yankees are a wonderfully ingenious and driving people, 
but thinks they don't always know " how best to do it." 
He wants to start a general-improvement stock company 
to utilize the sewerage of Boston for the production of 
choice grapes and strawberries-and-cream, rather than 
throw it away Avhere the incoming tide will wash more or 
less of it in lodgments on South Boston Flats, and give 
the deadhead co-associate contemplaters on Noddle's Isl- 
and and in the City Government (for 1877 only) another 
chance to deadhead citizens, this time in new hospitals and 
lovely cemeteries. 



Guide to tJic 



On the roof of the Boat-house are two Lions, ornated 
with gold-leaf: these were once the property of Francis 
L. Peabody. of Salem. 

The inside of the Boat-house is temporarily floored over, 
and on the side-walls are various comical engravings, por- 
traying fishes, fishermen and boatmen. 

But of all the numerous improvements accomplished at 
Ridge Hill Farms, that of the greatest magnitude is the 
making of the artificial Lake Sabrina. 

Finding, in 187 1, a spring near the site of the Boat- 
house, the owner excavated and formed a small pond 200 
feet in diameter. He extended this, in 1873, to the large 
weeping elm tree, and built the stone lock with two gates, 
now covered by the Rustic Bridge* intending to form 
another pond on the north side. The springs here were 
found more powerful, and as the water-sheds from the 
high lands naturally incited the task, the work was ex- 
tended, and in 1874, 1875 and 1876 the northern, western 
and southern dykes were completed and stone-banked and 
the artificial lake finished, which is nearly one and one 
half mi.es in circuit, and varies from four to twenty-two 
feet in depth. Sabrina Lake is thirty-five feet above the 
level of Charles River. It is fed by springs, water-sheds, 
a six-inch pipe, over one mile in length, to other springs, 
and by the overflow from the high-service Water Tower. 



Ridge Hill Farms. cj 

It was stocked with black bass in 1874, which fish and 
horn-pout have rapidly multiplied. 

It has three islands, of which Tri-pont is the largest, two 
acres, Oak Island at the north end, about one acre, the 
second, and Swan Island, one-half acre, west of Arbore- 
tum Knoll. On this Lake are Muscovy and Aylesbury 
ducks, black and white swans, thirteen row-boats, a -fleet 
of toy ships, and a small steamboat, six feet in length, 
complete in all its appointments, built by a deaf mute in 
Boston, who spent twelve months in its construction. 
The works are of brass and copper, and have the capacitv 
to run thirty minutes with one firing. 

Leave Tri-Pont Island by the covered Rustic Bridge. 
and pass to the base of the Circular Bear-Pit, built of red 
brick in 1875, thirty-two feet in diameter; thence return 
to the Rocky Avenue and the Steamboat Pier. "The 
Lady of the Lake,'' here found, is fifty feet in length, and 
will carry forty passengers. It was built on the place, and 
is propelled in the water by floats attached to endless 
chains, in place of the usual side-wheels. By running the 
steamboat on to a truck-frame with wheels submerged in 
the water, then disconnecting the motor from the endless 
chain floats and connecting to the driving wheels of the 
i truck, it can be propelled on a tramway. The increased 
size of Sabrina Lake, however, avoids the necessity of 



52 Guide to the 



connecting it bv tramways to Charles River, as was at first 
projected. This amphibious steamboat was launched on 
Charitv Day, July 14, 1S76, of the Fraternal Welcome 
Fete. 

From the Steamboat Pier continue north up Rocky Ave- 
nue to the Peacock House, which will be found at the 
junction of Krino Avenue. Looking south on Krino Ave- 
nue you see The Boston Fire Monument, composed of 
the only four granite columns of the new Boston post- 
office injured by the great fire of November 10, 1S72. The 
arched iron girders tying these columns are surmounted, 
at the apex by a revolving statue of Mercury. 

All the Elm and Pine trees found near this Fire Monu- 
ment and the Peacock House have been moved about one 
mile and here replanted since September, 1S75. They 
vary in height from thirty to seventy feet. The total 
number of trees, small and large, planted or transplanted 
on the estate, since .September, 1875, will aggregate over 
three thousand. 

Near the Peacock House will be found the Deer l J ark. 
In this enclosure will be found two elks from Nebraska, 
named Stag-horn Elkie and Nebraska Fanny; three deer, 
one a fallow or spotted deer from England, named Cousin 
Fan?iy, another from the State of Maine, called Maine-nie- 
Deer, and Decr-rie Orleans, who ran into New Orleans 



Ridge Hill Farms. 53 

as her city of refuge at the time of the last flood — not 
that of Noah's time, but that of the Brashear crevasse. 

The brown and white antelope from Colorado is called 
Nebraska Dickey, and his goat lady-love, Nancy White. 

The male bison is from Colorado, and is called Buffalo 
Bcb Haycock, in honor of Buffalo Bill (Haycock), the 
famous trapper — not he that is playing at the theatres — 
who first lassoed him. 

The female bison (by many called buffalo, though 
incorrectly unless preceded by the word American) was 
captured in Kansas, and was by the trappers named Julia, 
to which the present owner added the name of Siveeny, in 
honor of Mr. John Sweeny, of Sandusky, Ohio, who or- 
ganized the expedition of eleven trappers which caught 
Bob Haycock, and, after a three days' chase, Pomfiey Hay- 
cock, the largest buffalo and evidently the king of the 
herd, who died this early spring by striking his head 
against the log corrall of his winter-quarters when the 
attendants were attempting to ring his nose. 

Pass northerly on the Krino Avenue to the Archway 
marked Krino Valley of Fajicies, Follies and Frivoli- 
ties* 



* Krino (Greek), to order, inquire and search into; investigate; to 
distinguish between good and bad; i.e., criticising judgment. 



54 Guide to the 



The numerous comical peculiarities of this place are 
sufficiently explicit, and do not require any description in 
this guide. They should be seen to be fully appreciated. 
A printed description first read of many of them would be 
tame, and destroy half the surprise controlling the visitor 
to the quaint make-u$s here gathered. 

Attention, however, may here be called to the Tar- 
peian Rock, just at the entrance arch, the Race Horses, 
the Bottle Monument to "The Departed Spirits," JoJin 
Soulier* Epitaph', which reads as follows: -'To the mem- 
ory of John Soulier, boot-maker. He was a man of great 
under-standing, and knew best how to treat corned feet. 
Not-a bene : the best way to stretch boots is to fill them 
with bean--, then water and let 'em swell. His widow, a 
blonde, aged 27, continues at the old stand, and makes a 
specialty of giving fits to children and widowers." Also 
The Darwinian Theory, the Little Lawns from Boston 
Common, who died while fawning around city officials, 
Billy Bruin's Chaplet, containing the great Black Bear, 
taxidermisted, which escaped from Ridge Hill Farms in 
July, 1S74. just as he had arrived there, and who roamed 
about for ten days, to the dismay of residents within a 
circuit of fifty miles, by his scratching at their doors at 
midnight hours, seeking table dainties, upon which this 
tame Bear had been fed. The daily reports in the Bos- 



Ridtte Hill Far 



v & 



ins. 



55 



ton newspapers, of Billy Bruin's visits to houses at 
night, and churches on Sundays, &c, to avoid his 
pursuers, of his maiming human species, swallowing 
babies, &c, &c, caused great fear among the credu- 
lous and timid believers, until he was reported as 
wounded at North Weymouth, and the next morning his 
body found floating near the beach at Hull. Numerous 
readers of the Boston newspapers will recall the funeral 
obsequies of Billy Bruin at Ridge Hill Farms on July S, 
and that of the Swan Leander on July 19, 1S74. killed by 
the alligator. 

Many of the one thousand invited guests present sent 
laments in prose or rhyme pertaining to Bears or SAvans. 
One from Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes reads as follows : — 

i; 296 Beacon Sreet, Aug. 1, 1S74. 
" Dear Sir, — Many thanks for your polite invitation to 
attend the obsequies of the lamented plantigrade. I am 
sorry that it will not be in my power to be present upon the 
melancholy occasion. I have a great respect for bears 
since those two female ones taught the little children of 
Bethel and of Belial that they must not be rude to elderly 
persons. I think a loose bear or two might be of service 
in our community, and I regret much the loss of an ani- 



5 6 Guide to the 



mal who might have done so much as a moral teacher for 
the young of this city and its suburbs. 

•'I am, dear sir, vours very truly, 

"O. W. HOLMES." 

The small (?) Farmers Boy on the hill has a pretty 
smile. " The representative of the ' Hub'' or modern 
Athens" has a wise look, derived, probably, from his an- 
cestors, the ' ; Greek Roots," or Grecian Benders, so curi- 
ously humanized on Oak Island. 

" One of the Kentucky Bourbons" looks tipsy, and has 
a rye face. The negro has lost part of his pipe of peace, 
and found a piece of pipe. The interior of the "Diggers' 
Retreat," shingled with old picks, spades and shovels, 
used up in making Lake Sabrina, causes all to smile 
" out loud." This part is thus explained : — 

"Sacred 2 the Memory 
Of those who for 3 years have been digging ! — digging! ' 
— digging!!! — these Canals, Ponds and Lakes; who, 
standing in the water, got very wet, and yet frequently 
persisted that they were very dry! 
" If you use a little blarney, and give them plenty of 

rations, 
These lovers of the Green (s), they can just bate all nations 
In the use of the pick and the shovel. 



Ridge Hill Farms. 57 



" On pipes the Dutch may possibly bate the Irish a wee bit, 
But they never can smoke out of them — a bit of their wit. 
' " No ! no ! ould Ireland's always ready for a lark, 
As in classics it is certainly quite up to the mark ; 
For you may 'get the best' dictionary and sarch it clane 

through. 
You may torture your brain until all is sky blue, 
But surely, ' when Greek meets Greek,' must mane 
That the Emerald Pie is just like ivarm Greece — that's 

plane." 

The large Hog, standing upright on his hind feet under 
the ornamental wood frame, was erected on June 19, 1875, 
at the fete frolic given to Southern guests at the time of 
their visiting Boston to participate in the Bunker Hill 
Centennial; it is marked, on one side, "Massachusetts 
Senate, 1636, Sorv." On the other side, " Jafihct in search 
of his Alma Mater.' 1 '' 

This Monument is to commemorate the circumstances 
which led to the organization of the higher branch of the 
Legislature or Senate of Massachusetts, the history of 
which, by Winthrop, Palfrey, and others, is thus recorded : 

There was a stray sow found in the streets of Boston 
in the year a.d. 1636. It was brought to Captain Keayne, 
a man of property and consequence (he was one of the 



58 Guide to the 



founders of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Com- 
pany, in 163S), but he was unpopular for alleged hardness 
in dealings. He gave public notice about finding the sow, 
by the town crier and otherwise, but no claimant ap- 
peared for nearly a year, until after he had killed a pig of 
his own which had been kept along with the stray sow; 
then the Widow Sherman came to see it, and not being 
able to identify it with the one which she had lost, alleged 
that the slaughtered pig was hers. The Elders of the 
Church of Boston, after hearing the parties, exonerated 
Captain Keayne. The Widow Sherman was dissatisfied, - 
and brought her case to trial before a jury, who decided 
for the defendant. Then Keayne sued the Widow for def- 
amation in charging him with theft, and recovered forty 
pounds damages. Mrs. Sherman was not satisfied yet, 
and appealed to the General Court or Legislature in 1642. 
This body was composed of magistrates and deputies, who 
sat and voted in the same chamber. The wrangling 
over the rehearing of the case occupied seven days. Then 
two magistrates and fifteen deputies voted for a reversal 
of the previous decision, and seven magistrates and eight 
deputies voted in approval of it ; the other seven deputies 
stood doubtful. 

Thus a large majority of the superior officers was for 
one party, while on a joint vote the majority of the court 



Ridge Hill Farms. ^9 

would be for the other. Therefore the case was not deter- 
mined, and there also arose the very important question 
of the relation of the magistrates appointed by the Charter 
Company, who were more or less subject to the crown in- 
fluence, and that of the deputies elected by the popular 
vote. After long contention, the publication of a brochure 
concerning the hog dispute, and a special proclamation by 
the Governor, John Winthrop, the negative voice of the 
magistrates was ovei-ruled, and as a sequence came the 
organization of the higher branch, elected by the popular 
vote, henceforth known as the Senate. 

The dedicatory speech at the time of the erection of this 
Senate Monument, was made by J. F. C. Hyde, Esq., 
who was President of the Senate in 1S69-70. 

The 1812 War Hog Monument Avas dedicated June 19, 
1S75, with a speech by Governor Howard, of Rhode Isl- 
and. Tradition thus tells us that which has its earnest 
and decided believers and unbelievers : 

By the carelessness of a boy in 1S11, a garden gate was 
left open ; two pigs entered and rooted up a few plants. 
The owner of the garden, when attempting to drive them 
out, had to contend against the well-known obstinacy of that 
animal to be driven anywhere. They would not go out at 
the open gate, and finally fell dead exhausted in their race 
to keep away from their fierce pursuant. The owner of 



60 Guide to the 



the hogs sued the owner of the garden for extreme vio- 
lence when ejecting them. This engendered a hard feel- 
ing, which led the owner of the garden to vote, at the next 
election, for the candidate to the United States Senate from 
the opposing party for which he had previously voted. This 
opposition candidate, Howell, was elected United States 
Senator by one majority: and the qnestion was put in the 
Senate, - ' Shall the question of war with England he post- 
poned to the next session?" This Howell voted no; and 
this vote also was decided hv (his) one majority. lie also 
voted no on the next question, namely, " Shall Avar with 
England now be declared?" which was carried in the 
affirmative; yet his two previous negative votes nullified 
his last vote, and caused the war of 1S12. Thus the two 
hogs -who stole into the garden to scare//, for roofs, hv 
their resisting expulsion unto their death, caused the 
election of HoWellj whose negative vote caused war with 
England, in 1812, and settled forever the right of search 
claimed hv the English Naval Service over American 
ships. This alleged historical fact or tradition has 
its believers and its non-believers; but ex-Governor 
Howard, and the then Lieut. -Governor (but now Gov- 
ernor) Van Zandt, assert that this hog tradition reads so 
prettily that no true son of Little Rhody should be vandal 



Ridge Hill Farms. 61 

enough to hunt up evidence to undermine the honors got 
by this big result for the little State of Rhode Island. 

Returning in the Krino Valley by the same path, the 
visitor's attention will be arrested on the lake-side by 
numerous ducks, heron, and other feathered species ; an 
alligator, otter, beaver, &c, so well stuffed that they re- 
fuse every dainty offered them. A small sign on one of a 
cluster of white-birch trees is marked, " Good for our 
boys." " As the twig is bent, the boy's inclined." 

Leave Krino Valley by the Lakeside Path, which is 
just inside of the archway by which you entered; pass the 
Rustic Scat Umbrella, south, to the Gothic Arch, which 
formed the main entrance to the Presbyterian Church, 
corner of Beach Street and Harrison Avenue, that was 
partially destroyed by the Globe Theatre district fire on 
May 29, 1873, and afterwards taken down by the city of 
Boston in order to widen the street. Through this Arch 
we reach the Smugglers' Cove, the waters of Lake Sabri- 
na on one side, and on the other, boulders of rock, piled 
high, at much labor and expense, these rocks having 
formed division walls of the lowlands and fields now cov- 
ered by the waters of Lake Sabriua. On the right of the 
Tunnel entrance is seen the grim form and vLage of the 
Smuggler Chief, and on the left the Red-man, with war 
paint and tomahawk. Passing through the rocky subter- 



62 Gu ia 7 e to the 



ranean tunnel we reach the Round Tower, thirty-five feet 
in height, its stone walls scintillating" with crystals. This 
Tower was finished about the time of the Crystal Wed- 
ding FSfe, September 20, 1875. After going through the 
second subterranean passage wo reach the Smugglers' 
Cave, with high vaulted roof, and huge rocks composing 
its sides, cut with grotesque and sphinx-like faces: here 
also are found numerous of the smugglers' captives, among 
whom are Mrs. Cardiff, Boss Tweed, Punch, four of the 
Forty Thieves, peeping from Barbara's oil-jars, and the 
Girl of the Period, with Ezra Winslow\ the latter of which 
is placarded as follows: "English officials arrested me, 
the British Ministry requested my detention. But the Art 
of Parliament of 1S7C released me, thus declaring that I 
was wrongfully arrested and wrongfully detained; ergo I 
have a claim against the British Government of £100,000, 
which T assign to the Boston Banks, as some satisfaction 
for not getting my body extradited.'' In this cave, here 
and there, from the crevices in the rocks are seen huge 
hands protruding, apparently to greet you, but show- 
ing also their cloven feet. To add to the weird and subter- 
ranean influences, the visitors can see, at the furthest 
southern extremity of this cave, the Black Bears, in the 
Circular Bear Pit before mentioned, ready to. hug them 
through the iron bars which shut them from the cave. 



Ridge Hill Farms. 63 

After viewing the "Rock — a-boy-baby," on the right, 
about one hundred feet from the southern extremity of the 
cave, ascend the steps and pass through the long dark 
Flirtation Tunnel. Here every gentleman offers his hand 
to some lady — to guide her underground. This, hand-in- 
hand walk of faith below, makes light of the darkness, and 
leaves pleasant impressions for long after, the world above 
is reached. 

The timid may .rest assured that there is nothing to 
cause alarm anywhere in these caverns or subterranean tun- 
nels. It may be noticed that in arranging his grounds, the 
proprietor locates everything pertaining to the same class 
or special kind of attraction or amusement, by itself, in 
one section ; and does not, unless some peculiarity of na- 
ture specially tempts him, scatter in different parts of the 
estate his mushroom growth of varied surprises. 

Thus the timid visitor need not fear to pass all alone 
through the Flirtation Tunnel. The surprise experienced 
on reaching the Stalactite Grotto will amply compen- 
sate for and brighten the imagination of any clouded by the 
darkness in the Tunnel. The rays of the sun when not too 
low in the horizon, entering through the colored glasses in 
the roof of the Grotto, which is just above the surface of 
the ground, reflect all the hues of the rainbow upon the 
stalactites pendent from the roof. 



64 Guide to the 

The serpentine paths of this grotto are covered with 
white marble dust; it has eight miniature lakes stocked 
with gold and silver fish. The Amethyst Lake is so 
named from the water spraying into the basin having the 
appearance of that jewel when the sun is high enough to 
reflect its rays through the roof opening. The water 
passes from Amethyst Lake into Lake Crystal, thence 
into two huge shells from Calcutta, overflowing from the 
flutes into the Fluted Shell Lake. 

The water from Dianas P00L at the south end of the 
Grotto, rushes in small streams through crevices and over 
the rocks, and in grooves in the stone, dashing against 
shells and other obstructions, tailing clear and sparkling 
into the Devil's Basin, where the thirsty are tempted to 
stop and drink. 

The roof of this Grotto is supported by seven stone 
columns which were once the pinnacles of the same 
church as the Gothic Arch. 

The crvstalline and conch-shell arches, the rose-colored 
shells, the prismatic lines upon the cubes and iiakes of 
glass clustered around the lake borders, with the entwin- 
ing and other vines; the fern fronds, the intricate wind- 
ings, the rugged ascents and descents, and the music of 
the falling waters, idealize the romance of fiction. 

These subterranean chambers are inaccessible to frost, 



Ridge Hill Farms. 65 

and thus the work of construction has been continued 
all the winter months. 

The vandalism of many visitors, in breaking off and 
carrying away shells and crystals, are sore trials of pa- 
tience to the owner and his superintendent, who have 
passed many midnight hours planning and arranging 
them. 

The apparently uncontrollable propensity of visitors to 
carry away souvenirs is very costly and annoying. Quot- 
ing from the daily reports for the past month of July, one 
of the inspectors, while secreted in the Grotto for one 
half-hour, observed twenty persons, of the one hundred who 
passed through, possess themselves of shells, crystals, &c. 
Should one fifth of the visitors to this estate prove thus 
inconsiderate, the work of restoration must necessarily 
be constant and costly. 

As the visitor leaves the Grotto by the Exit Turnstile, 
and passes into the outer air, he will note the difference, 
and appreciate the cooler temperature of his quarter-mile 
walk under ground. 

Follow the Exit path, and down the grassy slope to the 
side of the goat-riders to the Krino Avenue. Thence 
turn to the left, and pass between the Boston Fire Monu- 
ment and Circular Bear-Pit, to the Camera Obscura. on 
the terrace near Hillside Avenue. The six pillars support- 



66 Guide to the 



ing the roof of this building are from that part of the 
Old State House removed by the city of Boston in 1876 in 
order to straighten Devonshire Street. 

Upon entering this Dark Chamber, the surrounding 
landscape will be portrayed upon the round table, perfect 
in outline, color and movement, by the aid of lenses re- 
volving at the apex of the roof. 

Leaving the Camera Obscura, the visitor will pass to 
the PhotografJi Studio, which is near the Registry Office. 

Those who desire to purchase photographic views of the 
place will ask for a printed slip, and indicate by writing 
the number of each view wanted. This method will save 
the time and words both of visitors and of attendants. 

REMARKS. 
It is impossible for any one to visit Ridge Hill Farms, 
no matter what his tastes, without having the mind direct- 
ed into new channels, and controlled to think for himself, 
on returning to his home, of some new departure from the 
conventionalities and ruts of routine life. If the owner 
has adopted any rule of action in improving his estate, it 
seems to be more that of avoiding- the routine style of all 
others. He believes that his sphere of action in life is to 
amuse others, and that a little nonsense now and then is 
more compatible with the summer recreative season or 



Ridge Hill Farms. 67 

country life, and tends to direct the mind for a brief space 
from the thorns and trials common to our daily walks. 

The financial expenditures, and the constant applica- 
tion, physically and mentally, for the amusement and 
benefit of others, would be most appreciably returned by 
courteous acts of consistency. 

Therefore will each visitor act as a monitor and disci- 
plinarian toward all who may be seen trespassing by 

Walking on the grass or flower plots ; 

Annoying the pet animals with sticks or stones, or by 
giving them tobacco ; 

Strewing the ground with refuse paper or garbage from 
the luncheon basket; 

Handling when they should not touch ; stealing orna- 
ments from the buildings, or plants, fruits or flowers from 
the gardens or hot-houses ; 

Breaking twigs from valuable trees, destroying fern 
fronds, and that which requires months or years to re- 
store ; 

Crowding the veranda of the proprietor's residence, 
and peeping in at the doors or windows ; 

Or wasting by talk the paid hours of the laborers ; 
which, if it does not cease, must result in the employment 
of such as cannot speak English, that are deaf and dumb 
or wear anti-hearing ear-pads. 



68 Guide to the 



The Registry Office is specially established to respond 
to all the enquiries concerning the Heavens above, the 
Earth beneath, and the Waters round about, which many 
peculiar people have been asking at the door of the pro- 
prietor's residence, — such as for the loan of tumblers, 
pitchers of ice-water, parasols, umbrellas, waterproofs, 
perambulators, tea-spoons, money on chattel mortgages, 
and for all the charities in the known and unknown re- 
gions; restoratives for the faint, halters for horses, and 
milk for the babies. 

Strangers "Will confer a favor by permitting the pro- 
prietor to reserve, EXCLUSIVELY for his family and guests, 
the inside of his residence, the -veranda, round about* and 
the driveway on the north side of it. 

Although the proprietor has, upon request, consented 
to hold SOME horses, his duties are such that he cannot 
be relied upon to be always on hand for this service. 

NOTICE. 
In order to save retracing steps, visitors should follow 
the track as herein consecutively described. It may, how- 
ever, be stated that that which is on this 1st day of Septem- 
ber, may be materially innovated before November, by the 
restless activity which here prevails and has given use to 
the sobriquet of the " human earthquake." 



Ridge Hill Farms. 69 

That which is herein alluded to as projected, may now 
never be done, inasmuch as the projector has such an 
aversion to any prior notice of the intention to do. 

The owner of this estate repudiates all titles, and partic- 
ularly desires it known that he is not entitled to the pre- 
fix of Colonel, by which many have addressed him since 
the presentation, by the Fifth Maryland National Guards, 
of a broken sword with three ribbons attached, which, 
according to some military regulations, made him Colonel 
by brevet of that Regiment. He requires all so calling 
him to spell it Kernel. He believes that only such as 
earn titles are entitled to have them, and therefore he 
abominates that relic of the country village, the word "Es- 
quire," now so commonly used as the caudal appendage 
to the name of every man. 

Trusting that as you go to your homes, -wherever they 
may be, you will be mindful that as you are blessed 
or are entertained by others, so you should extend to 
others such comforts and pleasing diversities from mental 
cares as maybe within your province, and hopeful, that 
you will evidence your sympathy in the charities projected 
in the addenda hereinafter, — A Dieu. 
Toi'-soinez, 

PORCUPINE QUILL. 



Guide to the 



CATALOGUE 



Statues, Busts, Vases, Curiosities, &c, 

AT THE 



H8LL 




WELLES LEY, MASS. 

SEPTEMBER, 1877. 

This Swan, in a boat on wheels, drawn by a Turtle, is from the en- 
graving of The First Hour, by Raphael. It was adopted as the trade- 
mark of Ridge Hill Farms because of the general interpretation that 
the Turtle is capable of carrying- a great weight, and of long-COfl- 
tinued work. The Brahmin mythology represented the globe resting 
on the back of the Turtle — and thus the Turtle, by its accumulated 
force from a strong will, moved the world, as the mosquito can worry 
and move the strongest man. So the Turtle, symbolizing what man 
can do, or should do, toward working out his aim in life. 



No. 



i. 2 Chamois (Wild Goats). White zinc. From Berlin. 



Ridge Hill Farms, Ji 

2. 17 Large Moulded Stone Flower Vases, Roman style. 

3. 17 Small do. do. do. 

Bordering Conservatory Lawn. 

4. 2 Russian Bloodhounds. White zinc. From Berlin. 

5. 2 Water Spaniels. Colored terra-cotta. From Mu- 

nich. 

6. The Cat Solicitor. Colored zinc. From Dresden. 

The legend says : Once upon a time the noble Marquis of 
Carrabas was convicted of high treason, his estates confiscated 
and himelf driven into exile. The unhappy man sent letter 
upon letter, asking pardon, without receiving any answer; 
the prayers of his oldest and most influential friends were in 
vain ; his two sons whom he sent, one after the other, were not 
even received by the stern and unrelenting monarch. As a last 
venture he sent his educated cat, dressed up as an ambassador, 
Avith an humble petition praying for grace and mercy. The 
cat, accompanied by a trustworthy old servant, was received 
with astonishment at the roj'al castle, but was allowed free access. 
The monarch, in a fit of good humor and merriment, was unable 
to withstand so much perseverance and humility, and granted 
revocation of the order of condemnation. 

7. Statue, Music conquering Force. Zinc bronze. 

S. 10 Green Majolica Flower Urns, with four Handles. 
From Montpellier, France. 

9. Large Greek Vase on Pedestal. White terra-cotta. 

From Scotland. 

10. Silver Reflecting Globe on Ornamented Iron Stand. 

From Paris. 



^2 Guide to the 



Pavilion Avenue, 
East Side. 
ii. Diorama. 

12. Swings, exclusively for guests of the proprietor. 
Visitors using them, or any of the games in Tivoli 
Hall, will display a sorry return for the courtesies 
extended in permitting them to visit the estate. 
13a. Drinking Fountain, " Leaky Boot." Zinc bronze. 
From Berlin. 

The basin of this fountain is a fine specimen of quartz rock. 
It was owned and used by Dr. Morton when making his anaes- 
thetics. 

14. Iron Mortar used in the Confederate Service. 

15. Cherubs Playing on a Lyre. 

16. 12 "Mushroom*' Seats. From French Department 

Centennial Exhibition. 

17. Roman Vase. White zinc. 

iS. Statue on Pedestal, Flora. By Wittig. Black terra- 
cotta. From Italian Department Centennial 
Exhibition. 

19. Statue on Pedestal, Asia. By Tondeur. White 

terra-cotta. From Italian Department Centennial 
Exhibition. 

20. Statute on Pedestal. Africa. By Tondeur. Black 

terra-cotta. From Italian Department Centennial 
Exhibition. 



*3 



Ridge Hill Farms. 73 

2 Green Japanese Seats. Porcelain. 

1 Mottled do. do. 

2 Modern Seats, Imitation Wooden Stumps. Porce- 
lain. 

Minnehaha's Wigwam. 

Containing a series of S paintings depicting the course of In- 
temperance. To change the pictures in the stereoscope of Min- 
nehaha, press on the two buttons. 

Walter's Garden. 

26. Statue on Pedestal, Autumn. By Wittig. Red terra- 

cotta. From Italian Department Centennial Ex- 
hibition. 

27. Eddie's and Walter's Play and Ware House. 

28. Eddie's Garden. 

29. Statue on Pedestal, Evangeline. Red terra-cotta. 

From Italian Department Centennial Exhibition. 

30. Statue on Pedestal, Europe. By Tondeur. White 

terra-cotta. From Italian Department Centennial 
Exhibition. 

31. Statue on Pedestal, Psyche. By Thorwaldsen. 

White terra-cotta. From Italian Department 
Centennial Exhibition. 

Pavilion Avenue, 
IVcst Side. 
330 9 Rustic Seats, Imitation Stumps of Trees. Colored 
terra-cotta. 



74 Guide to the 



33. Chinese Joss (Idol). White marble. 

34. A Chinese God. Wood, gilded. Said to be Diabutus, 

and to have been idolized for five hundred years. 

35. Cats in Council. Black and white zinc. From Vi- 

enna. 

36. Statue on Pedestal, Gladiator Borghese. Zinc 

bronze. Original in Rome. 

37. 2 Antique Marble Lions, dormant. 

3S. 1 Silver Reflecting Globe on Ornamented Iron Stand. 
From Paris. 

39. Antelope. Colored zinc. 

40. Triple Cushion Seat. Colored terra-cotta. From 

Florenc e. 

41. Faun, dormant. do. do. 

42. 2 Japanese Flower Vases on Pedestals. Colored por- 

celain. 

43. 2 Gnomes. Red terra-cotta. From Bonn, Germany. 

44. Triple Cushion Seat. Colored terra-cotta. From 

Florence. 

45. Faun, standing. do. do. 

46. 2 Statues, Atalanta and Meilanion. White zinc. 

Atalanta is recorded in Greek mythology as the daughter of 
Iasos, King of Arcadia, who, having prayed to the gods for a 
son, was displeased at her birth, and as a mark of his displeasure, 
exposed her on the Parthenon mount. 

Here she was nurtured by a she-bear, and grew up to woman- 
hood, still, however, retaining her virginity, and becoming the 



Ridge Hill Farms. 75 

most swift-footed of mortals. She vanquished the Centaurs, who 
sought to capture her, participated in the Calydonian boar-hunt, 
and engaged in the Pelian games. In course of time, her father 
was reconciled to her and restored her filial rights to her. But 
•when he urged her to choose a husband, she insisted that every 
suitor who aspired to win her should first contend with her in 
running.. If he vanquished her, he was to receive her hand as 
the prize of the victory; and if vanquished, he was to be put to 
death. 

Meilanion overcame her by practising the following artifice : As 
he ran, he dropped three golden apples, the gift of Venus, one 
after the other, along the course, which so fascinated Atalanta that 
she could not refrain from delaying to pick them up; and while 
she thus delayed, Meilanion gained the race and a wife. And 
they lived happy ever after, until they were struck by lightning — 
by Jupiter — for disobeying his commands. 

47. Antelope. Stuffed. 

48. Elk. do. 

Floral Art Garden, 
Balustrade. 

49. Blue Majolica Vase with Goat Handles and Oak-leaf 

Pedestal. 

50. 2 Ornamental Japanese Vases. Porcelain. 

51. do. Urn Vases, Chinese Decorations. Terre- 
cuit. From Italian Department. Centennial. 

$2. Statue, Boy with Squirrel. Zinc. Italian Depart- 
ment, Centennial. 
53. Statue, Boy blowing Bubbles. Rogers. 



76 Guide to the 



54. Statue, The Dying Indian Warrior. By P. Stephen- 

son. White marble. 

55. Flower Vase. Porcelain. 

56. Statue, Shepherd-boy Flute Player. Terre-cuit. 

57. 2 Large Etruscan Vases. Terre-cuit. Bronzed. 

5S. Statue, Flora. Zinc bronze. Italian Department, 

Centennial. 
59. Statue. Bacchante. Bronze. 
6 '. Ornamental Porcelain Seal. Chinese. 

61. Statue, The Fisher Girl. Terra-cotta. Italian De- 

partment, Centennial, Philadelphia. 

62. Majolica Vases on Majolica Pedestal. Harvest Glean- 

ers. Wheat and Corn Ornaments. English. 

63. Roman Fluted Vase. Majolica. English. 

64. Statue, Girl caressing Dog. Zinc. Rhine. 

65. do. Girl feeding Pet Eagle. Zinc. Rhine. 
65. Greek Fluted Vase. White terra-cotta. 

G-. Statue, Shepherd Boy. Zinc. Berlin. 
6S. Ornamental Majolica Vase. England. 

Niches in Garden Trellis. 

69. Japanese Pedestals. Porcelain. 

70. Bust, George Washington. Cast, on Pedestal. 

71. Statue, Cupid, Silence. Antique, do. do. 

72. do. Diana de Gabia. Terra-cotta. 



Ridge Hill Farms. 77 

73. Statue, Ceres. Zinc. 

74. Bust, Venus de Milo. Cast, on Pedestal. 

Floral Art Garden, 
South Division. 

75. Greek Vase with Handles. On Pedestal. White 

terra-cotta. 

76. Fluted Roman Vase. White terra-cotta. 

77. do. do. 

7S. Fountain. Boy and Girl Courtship under Umbrella. 
Red terre-cuit. Italian Department, Centennial. 

79. Medallion Vase with Handles. Elaborate. Terra- 

cotta. Rhine. 

80. Etruscan Medallion Urn. Snake and Eagle Head 

Handles. Rhine. 

Si. Flower Urn. Medusa Head Handles. On bronze 
Pedestal. Terra-cotta. Rhine. 

82. Flower Vase. Ornamented. Terra-cotta. Rhine. 

S3. Flower Urn. Dragon Handles. Terra-cotta Pedes- 
tal. Rhine. 

84. Statue, Jubilating Faun. Black terra-cotta. 

55. Fluted Roman Vase. White terra-cotta. 

56. Japanese Flower Stands. Colored porcelain. 



7$ Guide to the 



8 . Greek Vase, Grapes. White terra-cotta. From 
Rhine. 

89. 2 Statues, Bacchante. Black terra-cotta. 

90. Japanese Seat. Lattice. Porcelain. 

91. 2 Japanese Pedestals. Quaint Tentacular four-toed 

and Scaly Dragons. Highly illuminated. 

92. Greek Vase. White terra-cotta. 

93. Ornamented Grape Vase. Black bronze, on Pedestal. 

From Rhine. 

94. Ornamented Grape Vase. do. do. 

From Rhine. 

95. Vine and Grape Vase. While terra-cotta, on Fluted 

Pedestal. From Rhine. 

96. Statue, Hercules and the Xemean Lion. Terra- 

cotta. Italian Department. 

<)-. Florentine Vase. Terra-cotta. on Granite Pedestal. 
Italian Department. 

08. Group. Trions playing with Dolphins. Red terra- 
cotta. Italian Department. 

99. Fluted Roman Vase. White terra-cotta. From 

Scotland. 

100. Fluted Roman Vase. White terra-cotta, on Pedestal. 

From Scotland. 

101. Etruscan Vase. White terra-cotta. From Scotland. 



Ridge Hill Farms. 79 

102. 2 Roman Fluted Vases. White terra-cotta. On 

Stair Balustrade. 

103. 2 Roman Fluted Vases. White terra-cotta. On 

Stair Balustrade. From Scotland. 

Floral Art Garden. 
North Division. 

104. 3 Reflecting Globes (red, white and blue) on Orna- 

mented Iron Stands. From Paris. 

105. Spatulated Greek Vase. White terra-cotta. Scotland. 

106. Wicker-Basket Vase. Iron, on Pedestal. 

107. Fluted Roman Vase. White terra-cotta. 

10S. Statue, ; ' Hide and Seek. Whoop!" Terra-cotta. 

Rogers. 
109. High Fluted Greek Vase. Terra-cotta. Scotland, 
no. Spatulated do. do. do. 

in. Statue, Flora. By Wittig. Zinc. 

112. do. " Dhudeen-evus Euterpe." 

113. High Fluted Greek Vase. Terra-cotta. 

114. Wicker-Basket Vase. Iron. 

115. Fluted Roman Vase. White terra-cotta. 

116. 2 Seats, Imitation Tree Stumps. Red and white 

terra-cotta. 

117. Chapel Fountain, Statue. Venus on the half shell 

after Finelli. Surrounded by 2 Greek Vine Vases, 
terra-cotta, and 2 Fruit Vases, white marble. 



So Gut ac to tJie 



Mosaic Garden. 
ii8. Wicker-Basket Flower Urn. White terrancotta. From 
Scotland. 

119. 2 Greek Fluted Vases. White terra-cotta, on Pedes- 

tals, 

120. 1 Water Lilac Vase. White terra-cotta. Scotland. 

121. 2 Florentine Vases. Black do. do. 

122. 2 Greek Fluted Vases. White do. do. 

123. Bust, Danaide. ByRauch. White zinc. Surrounded 

by 4 Etruscan Vases, white terra-cotta, and 2 
Florentine Vases, black zinc bronze, 2 Cellini 
Vases. 

124. Reclining Elk. By Ranch. White zinc bronze. 
12^,. Statue, Murmuring Waters. ByPradier. Black terra- 
cotta. 

Lower Terrace Balustrade. 

126. Antique Venus on the rail. Bust. 

127. Etruscan Vase. 

125. Bust. George Washington. Terra-cotta. 

129. Etruscan Vase. 

130. Bust. Sabrina. Terra-cotta. By B. Thorwaldsen. 

131. Etruscan Vase. 

132. Statue, Goddess of Triumph. Terra-cotta. 

133. Etruscan Vase. 



Ridge Hill Farms. 81 

134. Gen. Lafayette. Terra-cotta. 

135. Etruscan Vase. 

136. Bust, Galileo. Terra-cotta. 

137. do. B. Franklin. Terra-cotta. 
13S. Statue, Summer. Black do. 

139. do. Autumn. do. do. 

140. Bust, Ulysses (2d) S. Grant. White terra-cotta. 

141. Statue, Cupid playing with Fish. do. do. 

142. Etruscan Vase. 

143. Bust, A. Lincoln. do. do. 

144. Etruscan Vase. 

145. Statue, Diana de Gabie. do. do. antique. 

146. Etruscan Vase. 

147. Bust, Venus de Milo. do. do. do. 
14S. Etruscan Vase. 

149. Bust, Daniel Webster. do. do. 

150. Etruscan Vase. 

151. Statue, Psyche. White terra-cotta. B. Thorwaldsen. 

Under Trellis Work. 

152. Bust, Chi istoforo Colombo. White terra-cotta, on 

Pedestal. 

Aboretum Circle. 

153. Fountain, Statues, Greek Slave. H. Powers. 

Venus. B. Thorwaldsen. 



82 Guide to the 



153. Fountain, Statues, Venus in the Bath. Pr'adier. 

Urania. Antique, surmounted 
by Tritons and Dolphins. 

154. Gnome Drinking-Fountain. Bronze and granite. 

155. Statue. Santa Claus. Colored wood. 

156. do. Flora. By Rauch. Moulded clay. 

157. Frog Fountain. ''Home, Sweet Home — be it ever 

humble, there's noplace like home," under an 
umbrella in a shower. 
15S. Boy riding on a Goat. White zinc bronze. 

159. Girl do. do. do. do. 

160. Boston Fire Monument. Four gigantic granite pil- 

lars saved from the Boston lire, November 9, 1S72. 
Surmounted by Giovanni di Bjlogna's statue of 
Mercury, the messenger of the Grecian gods. 



First DEPARTMENT. 
Xoruio Tower. 
Odysseus (Ulysses). Bronze, marble pedestal. 
Leonardo da Vinci. do. 

Galileo. do. 

Richard Coeurde Lion. do. 
Philippe Auguste. do. 

Brennus. Parian marble. 



Ridge Hill Farms. 83 



Bellona. Porcelain. 

Pattas Athene. Porcelain. 

Chinese Mandarin. Papier-mache. From Chinese De- 
partment, Centennial. 

Chinese Lady. Papier-mache. From Chinese Depart- 
ment, Centennial. 

Japanese Armor. 

do. War Dogs. Bronze. 

1 Mediaeval Armor. Iron and steel. 

Gladiator Borghese. Bronze. 

Idol, carved from roots in the Pacific Islands. 

Tivoli. 
1 Billiard Table. 
3 Tivoli do. 

1 Erratic Spinner, or the Devil among the Tailors. 
1 Stereoscope. 
Faust, Marguerite and Mephistopheles. Haute relief, 

Parian. 
War. Haute relief, Parian. 
Peace. do. do. 

The Erl King. Haute relief, Parian. 
Canova's Venus. Terra-cotta, on pedestal. 

do. Psyche. do. do. 

Mary, Queen of Scots. Bronze. 



S4 Guide to the 



Ceres. Antique medallion. 

Pomona. do. do. 

Arcadium. 

Cinderella. By Cauer. Parian marble. 

Heads of several famous persons, nodding to all visitors. 

The visitor, by inserting his head through the hole in a large 
card-board suspended at the southwest corner of the hall, will be 
surprised at finding himself portraited as drinking a mug of ale. 

Cherubs carrying Globe, on marble pedestal. Antique. 
Large Fish, from Japan. 
Victory. Wittig. On Pedestal. 
Medallion Vase. Florentine marble. 
Ophelia, Canova. Parian marble. 

Please notice the curious portraying or allegorical hallucination 
of one afflicted with neuralgia. 

Courtship in Sleepy Hollow. J. Rogers. Parian. 

Rip Van Winkle and Snyder. On pedestal. 

Diana de Versailles. Antique. Parian. 

Thalia. do. do. 

Head of Venus. Antique. On pedestal. 

Silver Globe. 

Canova's Psyche. On pedestal. 

do. Hebe. do. 

Edward the Confessor. On pedestal. 
Harold. do. 

Two ancient kings —but, like all mortals, made of clay. 



Ridge Hill Farms. 85 

Model of Church of Notre Dame in Montreal. Made of 
wire, and intended for use as a bird-cage. Paris 
Exhibition, 1867. 
Dulcimer. 
Harp. 

The printer of this book returns this 85th page, end- 
ing with the word " Harp," and requires twenty lines, — 
no more, no less, as all before, and most all after, has been 
electrotvped, — to fill out this page. The little "imp' 
has repeatedly tied me down to lines, pressing my crayon 
to limited minutes of time, in order not to stop his press. 
It seems as though he was playing on this word " harp," 
probably " of a thousand strings," leaving me only one, 
and that one binding me, brains and hand, under his 
printing-press. The brain, forced, doesn't make forced- 
meat, but it does hash one mentally; and whenever any 
siding from the subject matter under consideration has 
occurred, the reader will please credit it to pressing calls 
to fill the printer's-press vacuum. The encroachment on 
the Arcadium, which is devoted to such matters as interest 
children, for the display of certain reminders of those who 
were children one hundred years ago, is rendered necessa- 
ry because the owner has no other suitable place to locate 
the historic household articles used by those children of 
the 17th and 18th centuries, now matured in the eternal life. 



S6 Guide to the 



TEMPORARILY IN THE ARCADIUM 

WILL UK FOUND 

A LOT OF OLD-TIME RELICS. 

Dating' buck to the year 1630, 

Showing- us how those lived who settled our rocky soil, and toiled in 
the 17th and iSth centuries, and picturing to our minds the advance 
of the present age in household art and science. 



1. An ancient volume, entitled. " Commentariorvm de 

Regno Christi," by Philippe Nicolai. Printed by 

Johannes Spies, at Franktbrt-on-the-Main. in 1597 
(2S0 years old). 

2. "Harmonia Evangelica." Frankfort-on-the-Main, 

1622 (255 years old). 

3. German volume, entitled, " A great collection for the 

religious. In which the belief of right and hon- 
est;- in the life of a Christian and God's children, 
is eternal, majestic and glorious. Compiled by 
M. Martino Statio, Priest of St. John Dantzic, 
under the superintendence of Henry, John and 
Arndten Stern." Printed by John and Henry 
Stern, in Lunenburg, in 1652 (225 years old). 



Ridge Hill Farms. S/ 

4. Gerard's " Ioannis Vossii de Theologia Gentiti et 

Physilogia Christiana." Amsterdam, 1663 (214 
years old) . 

5. " Concordia pia et Unanimi confeufu repetita Confes- 

sio." Leipsic, 16S5 (193 years old). 

6. "Johannis Lasseria." Copenhagen and Leipsic, 1701 

(176 years old). 

7. Bichmann's " Hand Concordance." Leipsic, 1796 (Si 

years old). 

S. Two Ottoman Frames — 

Made from an English oak table, brought from England by 
Capt. Abrarn Brown, in the year 1630, only ten years after the 
landing of the Pilgrims at Plymouth. Capt. Abram settled with 
his companions, the Saltonstalls, in what is now Watertown, 
but was then by the Indians called by the not very classic name 
of Pigs-gusset. Benjamin Brown, grandson of Captain Abram 
Brown, was born February 27 a.d. 16S1, prospected and erected 
his cabin, in 1732, on a high rocky eminence, in what is now 
Lincoln, but then was a part of Watertown. Here, in a very 
primitive way, lived " Deacon Ben," as he was called, with his 
eleven rugged children. The quaint old furniture and house- 
hold ware used by " Deacon Ben" have passed from his genera- 
tion down to his sons, and children's children, to the present 
time. Consequent upon the death of Miss Abigail II. Brown, 
without direct heirs, has resulted the sale, by auction, on 
August 7, 1S77, of all the quaint collection, gathered and kept 
well in use in this old cabin home, which has now thirty-three rooms 
grafted on to it by the five generations of Browns who have suc- 
ceeded to its ownership. The simple ways of these descendants, 
from Abram the captain (but worthy representative of Abra- 



S8 Guide to the 



ham the Faithful and great sacrificer), has permitted the use of 
the same old household furniture and house utensils since the 
house was built in 1702. The innovations of fashion have not 
reached this primitive hearth home. Descending with the descend- 
ants, the habit of old association has reserved the same corner for 
the rag and button bag; the same nooks for fish-hooks, bullet- 
moulds, Szc. ; the same shelf for the flint and tinder-box, though, 
since the time of lucifer and friction matches, a.d. 1S29, this shelf 
has been otherwise used. 

As we examine and hunt up the associations connected with 
the articles bought by the owner of the Ridge Hill Farms, at this 
sale of souvenirs of Capt. Abram Brown, we may well ask our- 
selves if the advance of art and science, and the greater density of 
population, lias not deteriorated the nobler attributes of man, so far 
as relates t.) honesty, truth and self-sacrifice. Are we of this age 
of the same bold daring in doing our duty; of the same fearless 
willingness to suffer for conscience' sake, or to work out any 
unselfish aim in life? Is it not got to be plot and counterplot how 
to manipulate or control the executive authority for the self- 
advancement of the few at the expense of the many? 

Is there not proof of this in the action of the city officials of this 
present year, by their yielding to the importunate solicitation of 
the residents in East Boston, known as Noddle's Island, who ac- 
cepted their habitation, separated by the laws of Nature and of the 
Great Controller, by a water division, from the other citizens of 
Boston, and now wish those whom we find, from a careful scru- 
tiny of the city records, number more than eleven twelfths of the 
voters, and who pay more than thirty-nine fortieths of the city taxes, 
to pay for free ferriage to this nozv beggars'-corner, in their fear 
that the South Boston fiats will be improved and their real estate 
become " as dead as Chelsea" (was) ? The reader of this " Guide 
to Ridge Hill Farms " may think this a digression, but he will 
find his mistake before "Finis" is reached. The reader should 
reflect, when viewing these evidences of household life of the 



Ridge Hill Farins. 



seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, that we of the nineteenth, 
though living in the age of invention and the useful application 
of science in matters pertaining to our household, are liable, by 
having mechanical contrivances do our household work, toregan. 1 
that class of the human species required to assist us in the 
" chores " of domestic life, as mere automatic machines, who are 
to be only " pointed" to their duties, supposing that they have 
been born and trained to a full knowledge of how properly to 
perform them. They forget that these human organizers (?) 
required for the domestic duties of every householder have, Top- 
sy-like, only " grovjn " to their work, without any teaching, and 
therefore should not be regarded "as regular as clockwork" in 
other than c/z's-organizing the peace and comforts of the home. 

The age is progressive. The Constitution, framed in 17S0-S1 for 
our Union of States, requires modification to hold good for us of 
the following centiade. The system of elective franchise, the in- 
fluences warping executive administration, have changed as much 
as that of household economy since one hundred years ago, and 
we are required to carefully study the emergencies of our age, and 
regulate our laws and social life in conformity thereto. 

The sparse population, and self-sacrificing honesty of the times 
that are gone, gone, properly permitted every one who paid his 
petty poll-tax, to have his birth-right privilege of voting. But the 
great increase of population has very essentially changed the rela- 
tive dependence upon each other which existed in every small 
colony. 

Under the existing system, those paying only two dollars annu- 
ally, obtain the elective franchise, and by it — inasmuch as they 
compose four fifths of the voters — they really make the laws 
which are executed, at the expense of the remaining one fifth who 
pay forty-nine fiftieths of the entire taxes; in fact, very many im- 
provements which may be outwardly whitewashed as of a public 
character, are more for the benefit of a few, and carried out at 
the expense of a very small proportion, possibly one tenth or less, 



90 Guide to the 



of the citizens, and of those resident in such a section as to have no 
interest whatever in the so-called public improvement. Thus a 
very limited class of our citizens in Boston who take no part in 
paying the bills, have a four-fifths majority vote in making our 
laws and expenditures, and this is more or less true of the State 
and National Executive and expenditures. 

We find that in 1S77 the taxes in Boston are assessed on a total 
valuation, real and personal, of $6S6,So2,ioo, which, ;;t the rate cf 
$13.10 on the thousand dollars of valuation, sums up the total 
warrant to $8,754,214, of which eighty-six thousand and seven, 
paying two dollars each, is only $172,014, or less that one fiftieth; 
and yet those representing this small fraction, control the execu- 
tive and the expenditures of the city, and consequently the pockets 
of those who pay more than forty-nine fiftieths of the city taxes. 
Over seventy-eight per cent of the voters in Boston in a.d. 1S74, 
were assessed on polls only. One hundred years ago the expendi- 
tures of the city were very small. The warrant for the years 
previous to 1S03 are difficult to trace, by reason of the records 
having been destroyed by fire. That of 1S03 shows the entire 
warrant of the town of Boston to be $125,825; the number of tax 
bills, i.e., number of those assessed, were 4483, and 1225 bills 
abated in whole or in part. Thus there was a more equal and 
average payment of taxes than in these times, when the expendi- 
tures are largely to benefit a class, or section of, rather than the 
total of the citizens. The statute as originally enacted, and never 
changed, provided that one sixth of the warrant should be assessed 
on polls, but the polls were not ever to exceed two dollars ; thus the 
first part of the law became inoperative, and now the proportion, 
in place of being one sixth, is only one fiftieth. The double tax 
on mortgages, which is so oppressive to the poor, should be re- 
scinded, and the poll-tax should be raised to ten dollars. It 
would then only net less than one tenth of the total warrant. But 
if pro rata with the requirements to cover appropriations each 
year, it would be more equitable, and would check the at present 



Ridge Hill Farms. 91 

tendency to "jobs" or improper and unnecessary expenditures, 
and lay the foundation for a true civil service reform, which would 
tolerate, from interested motives, only such in official positions as 
were suitable for, and worthy of the place. This is quite different 
from the present system, wherein those who have the majority of 
the election, and through it the appointing- power, merely make 
drafts upon the pockets of those who pay forty-nine fiftieths of 
the taxes, in order to allow lazy John, inefficient Jim, or " treat- 
ing" George to live in clover and honey. Can we not regulate 
temperance reform by licensing the sale of ardent spirits in such 
a sum as is sufficient to cover the annual expenditures for police, 
criminal courts and correctionary institutions, and collecting pro 
rata of the remaining taxes required, per capita on the polls, and on 
such real or personal property as it may be deemed policy to assess ? 

Cannot the national revenue be collected per capita on the polls, 
and on specific duties on imports on those articles classed as lux- 
uries, and thus make voters pecuniarily interested in civil-service 
reform, and honest importers protected from their dishonorable 
competitors, who cheat the customs, bribe officials, and generally 
demoralize the community? 

Should not international expositions tend to freedom of thought, 
reciprocity of trade, international protection for the individual 
of each and every nation from piracy, murder, forgery, theft, and 
crime of every character? Can this result be reached while we 
discriminate in favor of certain products and special nations? 
Can the co-association of citizens as a Friday Reform Club help 
about a change from the old-rut routine, and place us on a basis 
more in conformity to that in which our age differs from that which 
was one hundred years ago? 

Are not these thoughts rationally the legitimate uprisings from 
viewing these old-time relics, which at once associate the men, 
the manner of life, and the requisites of the government service of 
that age in comparison to that in this second centiade of our na- 
tional existence? 



92 Guide to the 



How much of the old furniture and dinner ware could be shown 
with as few " chips," from the china, and broken parts of the utensils 
and furniture, if other than the " gude housewife " and her home 
domestic daughters had washed, scrubbed and had the care of it! 
"Rough and ready," has been the motto. " Rough and honest," 
should not be as fossils. Reader, please do not be a mere auto- 
matic-machine thinker as you examine these old-time relics, but 
reflect upon that which kept these articles in such good condition, 
and that which is required, in the present time, to conform to the 
requirements of our age. 

Many articles have no initials or dates designating their age, 
and are doubtless much older than the date herein given, back to 
which time initials, corroborated by descriptive wills, deeds and 
documentary evidence, reliably place them. 

9. Square table with out-pointed toed legs. 1735. 

Top restored with a new one, one hundred years ago. 

10. Silver knee-buckles. 1740. 

11. Wardrobe or portable closet. 1740. 

A large portion of the articles following are known to 
have been in use by the family of Timothy Brown, 2d, who 
was born a.d. 1750, and married Hannah Lee, of Concord, 
in 1772. Some of them were her marriage portion : — 

12. Oak Frame Loom, with harness-cards and shuttles for 

hand-weaving. On this was made the cloth for all 
the family garments. 

13. Flax Reel, Hatchell and Wheel for spinning linen 

thread. 

14. Large Wheel for spinning woollen yarn. 

15. Wheel for winding the bobbins. 



Ridge Hill Farms. 93 

16. Reel Swift, on old log pedestal. 

17. 1 Upright-bar, high-back, rush-bottom chair. 

18. 9 Cross-bar, high-back, rush-bottom chairs. 

19. 4 Parlor chairs, moquetrj. 

20. Bed Warming-pan. Long iron handle. 

21. Looking-glass. 

22. Cherry Desk. Secret Drawers. 

23. Round two-leaf Table. 

24. Pine Cradle, that has rocked many a " lullaby-baby " 

to sleep. 

25. Old Saddle. 

26. Snow-shoes. 

27. Old Razors, that have got well rested, and thus show 

a keen, sharp edge. 

28. Old Button-bag and contents, including buttons used 

during the commencement of the present cen- 
tury. 

29. Butter Scales made entirely of wood. 

30. Eight Pewter Dinner Plates and two Platters, very 

heavy, marked " H. L." 

31. Three Pewter Porringers, " H. L.," one Pewter Cup, 

one Pitcher, two Salt Cellars and two Vegetable 
Basins. 

32. Blue and white Cup and Saucer, Swan and Daisy 

pattern, very old. 



94 Guide to the 



33- 3 White China Dinner Platters, with blue edge ; Chi- 
na Pepper-box and Mustard Cruet. 

34. Set of Dinner Knives, including Carvers and Bone 

Cleavers; some of which are worn to within two 
inches of the handle, and two thirds of the origi- 
nal width of the blade ground away by sharpening. 
$$. Set of "Company Knives," the handles made from 
the bones of animals. 

36. 3 Iron Candlesticks, with hooks to hang them on the 

back of a chair. 

37. 2 Brass Andirons, the iron rests quite burnt through. 

35. Baby Chair, used, probably, by all the Brown babies. 

Its pink covering induces all babies "to take to it " immediately. 

All of the above are well authenticated as having been 
used by Hannah {nee Lee) Brown, who was married in 
E772. 

Of the following articles, some are nearer the com- 
mencement of the 19th century, and others again are of 
ante-bellum (1775) times: — 
39. The " Gore" Crib. 

This was presented to one of the Brown family, perhaps as a 
marriage gift, by Christopher Gore, who was born in England in 
a.d. 175S, was Governor of Massachusetts in 1S09-1S10, and in 
whose office Daniel Webster studied law, and by whose advice 
Webster declined the position offered to him of clerk of the Court of 
Common Pleas of New Hampshire, immediately after his admis- 
sion to the bar. 



Ridge Hill Farms. 95 



40. Umbrella. 

The cloth covering showing that it either never had any color, 
or if it had, that it was not a fast color. Its irame is of whale- 
bone, stayed by double wires. The stick and handle is of dark 
wood, and altogether its general appearance would convey the 
impression that it had been carefully preserved since its use at the 
commencement of the rain when Shem, Ham and Japhet, with 
their father Noah, entered the Ark. 

Unhappily, the fact that umbrellas were not generally used 
until A.D. 177S, disturbs the poetry of this antique umbrella. 

41. Grain, Snow and Cider-apple Shovels. 

Made with a jack-knife by Isaac Brown, who was born in 16S0, 
and in his boyhood days was a great whittler. They average 
twelve by sixteen inches at the shovel part, and have handles vary, 
ing from four to five feet in length, each whittled by the pocket- 
knife from one piece of lumber. It seems like chopping down a 
large tree and whittling the trunk into a tea-spoon. 

42. 8 old Jack-knives and 3 loose pocket-knife blades. 

43. Five Cider-apple Baskets, 

Also made by Isaac Brown; one of them, being nearly four feet 
in diameter, holds eight bushels, and would be just the thing as a 
floral tuioute, fdled with one entire hot-house of flowers, to Miss 
Clara Louise Kellogg, Miss Adelaide Phillips (the " pretty, 
pretty Polly Hopkins "of our boyhood associations), or other 
sweet native songstress. 

44. Dinner and Tea Set of Blue Crockery. 

These were known to be in use about the commencement of the 
nineteenth century. They are remarkably free from " chipping." 

45. "Wine Glasses. 

Were in use by the same Brown family as used the No. 44 Blue 
Crockery. But these glasses are supposed to be over one hundred 



96 Guide to the 



years old; and he that interpreted the expression, "Wine is better 
in old bottles," to mean old glass, would probably get his head 
turned if he imbibed from these ancestral glasses. 

46. Padlocks. 

One of them very quaint, — reminding one of Bluebeard and the 
legend age. 

47. Chapcau, marked on a metal tablet " A. H. A. [An- 

cient and Honorable Artillery] a.d. 1638." 

By some this might possibly be regarded as made at that date, 
and to have been worn by Captain Keayne, one of the founders of 
this antique company, who by his dying bequest left it five sterling 
pounds and one new-milch cow, were it not that the imprint on 
the inside reads "Bent & Bush, Boston;" and most of us well 
know that this Bush is not so old or Bent with age as to date away 
back to a.d. 163S. 

4S. Pair of Rubbers, 

Sold in 1S34 by John Rogers, not he that was burnt at his stake, 
but he that has been cornered, ever so many years, at the junction 
of Tremont St. and Pemberton Square, where old Gardner Green's 
slippery-elm trees grew, to the delight of slippery school-boys. 

These Rubbers or Elastic Treaders seem to have been made in 
a very primitive fashion, apparently after a similar manner that the 
Irishman described the making of cannon; namely, taking a 
hole somewhat resembling the foot of Jeremy Drake, for forty-two 
years the revered cashier of the Freemans National Bank, for whom 
they were intended, and covering it (the hole) with a very irregu- 
lar layer of crude gum rubber, one half inch in thickness. Con- 
trast this old-time elastic foot-dressing of 1S24 with that of Rogers' 
or H. H. Tuttle's present style of ladies' wear, which are found 
by the side of it, and tell us if you do not think that it is time to 
correct the old proverb which reads " Le style c'est rhomme," so 
as to read "Le style c'est lafemme." 



Ridge Hill Farms. 97 



49. Military Coat and Chapeau, 

Worn by Major-General in the war of iSia. 

50. The Bedstead on which slept General Lafayette at 

the residence of his Excellency, Governor Eustis, 
in Savin Hill, Dorchester, in 1824. 

During the last year of tne administration of President Munroe 
an invitation had been extended by our General Government to 
the Marquis de Lafayette, to visit the United States as the guest 
of the nation. He accepted the invitation, and arrived in New- 
York on Sunday, August 15, 1S34, with his son George Washing, 
ton Lafayette. 

From the Massachusetts " Centinel," and a communication from 
General W. H. Sumner, of Jamaica Plain, published, in 1S59, in 
the Historical Register, we clip this history concerning 

51. The Table used at the Dinner given by Governor 
Eustis in honor of General Lafayette, on Friday, 
August 27, 1S24: 
" His Excellency Governor Eustis had directed two of his aides, 
with conveyances, to be at the line of the Commonwealth, in Paw. 
tucket, to await the arrival of Lafayette, who reached there at six 
P.M., Monday, August 33d, and rode all night, being received by 
the villages en roufe yfith greetings of ladies and citizens and bon- 
fires; in Dedham, by a general illumination of the houses; in 
Roxbury, by salvos of artillery; and escorted by numerous citi 
zens he reached the mansion of his Excellency Governor Eustis, 
in Dorchester, at two o'clock Tuesday morning, thus redeeming 
his pledge that he would be in the vicinity of Boston on Mon. 
day." 

General Sumner thus writes : " The Governor gave an elegant 
breakfast, and then the troops, which were ordered for the escort, 
proceeded with him to Boston. On reaching the State House the 



96 Guide to the 



Governor then welcomed Lafayette in a formal manner, in the 
name of the Commonwealth, the ceremony taking- place in the 
Council Chamber." 

" The following day being Commencement at Cambridge, La- 
fayette was the honored guest of the University. I lis seat upon 
the platform in the meeting-house, where the usual ceremonies 
of the occasion were performed, was on the right hand of the Gov- 
ernor. On the opposite part of the platform, where I had my seat, 
the Governor beckoned to me, and on approaching him, interven- 
ing the parts, he addressed me rapidly: ' I wish to speak to you, 
Gen. Sumner, in your capacity as Quartermaster General, or as 
Commissary General, as I might more properly express it, to ask 
you if you can get me a dinner at my house to-morrow, in honor 
of this gentleman and thirty or forty others whom I intend to 
invite, many of whom are here?' I replied that I had not had 
much practice in providing dinners, in >ny capacity of Quarter- 
master General, and that the powers of Commissary General 
were not confided to me. Gov. Eustis said, ' If so, I know you 
have had great experience in getting dinners at home.' I said 
that I would, individually, do everything that I could to ac- 
complish his wishes. I would state to him, however, for his 
consideration, that all the provisions and delicacies of the mar- 
ket had been selected for the entertainment at Cambridge that 
day, and that all the public servants who could be hired, were 
also at Cambridge, and it would be as difficult to collect his 
guests on the next day as it would be to get provisions or ser- 
vants for the entertainment. But, I said, 'If you will postpone 
it one day, 1 will take upon myself the responsibility that it shall 
be done, although I do not know, at the present time, whom I 
shall employ to do it.' The Governor said, ' I see it is impossi- 
ble, as you suggest, to have it to-morrow ; but I will ask him for 
Friday, upon the assurance you have given, for I know of no one 
else that I can call upon to assist me.' 

"Although it was not a part of my public duty to provide an entei 



Ridge Hill Farms. 99 



tainment for his company at his private mansion, I daresay the 
Governor thought my duty would be embraced in the order which 
lie had given me. 

"As this was the first time he had called upon me to do anything 
but office business, and especially as he had recently come into 
power, succeeding Gov. Brooks, by the election of the democratic 
party, in opposition to that under which I held my office, I did not 
think it worth while to be very particular. I therefore went to 
work, with more zeal perhaps than I should have done if the enter 
tainment had been given by the Governor's predecessor, or by any 
one else of the same party in politics. ' Well,' said the Governor, 
' I must tell you another thing, sir, and that is, that I do not wish 
to give Mrs. Eustis any trouble except that which results from the 
use of the house. They may have my kitchen and my parlors and 
my chairs and tables; but as to having my knives and forks, and 
plates and dishes, they shall not have one of them. My decanters 
I will fill with wine and other suitable liquors, which shall be de- 
livered to the man who prepares the dinner, in proper order to 
place upon the table. Now, do you think you can get any person 
to undertake it on those terms? If so, I will ask Lafayette to 
dine with me on that day, as he is soon to leave this place.' I said 
• that it was something of an undertaking to do it so suddenly, 
and on those terms, and that I knew of but one man who could ac- 
complish it, and that I would go to see him that afternoon and get 
him to do it, or let him know that evening, if he would delay 
giving his invitation to the principal guest for a few hours.' 

" I went to Col. Hamilton of the Exchange CofTee House, an ex- 
cellent, cool-headed and systematic caterer, upon any sudden 
emergency, in his own house, whose ability I had often witnessed 
in giving some of the most splendid entertainments that Boston, 
at that time, exhibited. Hamilton acceded to my request, and 
agreed to undertake it, as, he said, ' that for a guest to whom the 
nation owes so much, every person ought to do the best he can. 
Though it would seem to many almost impossible to accomplish 



ioo Guide to the 



this, you may rest assured, Gen. Sumner, that it shall be done as 
well as I can do it.' I replied, • You had better go out to the 
Governor's, and see how he wishes his tables laid, and what you 
will need, before you do anything else.' He did so, and satisfied 
the Governor that it should be all accomplished in the manner 
he desired, without any trouble to Mrs. Eustis. 

"At the dinner the plates were placed on the outside of a horse- 
shoe table, i:i the hall, leaving the inside open for the attendance 
of the servants and the change of dishes. There were between 
thirty and forty guests, the Governor taking his position at the 
head of the table, with Lafayette on his right, Gen. Dearborn on 
his left, the late Gov. Brooks second on the right, the Lieutenant- 
Governor and Council, the Governor's Military Staff and other 
guests, which are not now recollected, seated on each side." 

52. The Coach owned by Governor Eustis, 

And in which, on the right side, on the rear seat, rode General 
Lafayette, on Tuesday, August 24, 1S24, when officially received 
in procession by the Executive of the Commonwealth, and the 
Executive of the City of Boston, and with great ovations by the 
masses of citizens. It is recorded of Governor Eustis " that be- 
fore his inauguration he rode only in an open wagon with one 
horse, which was familiarly known as his electioneering wagon, 
it was so often seen during the canvass at the gates of his political 
friends. After his inauguration he kept a very handsome coach. 
Governor Brooks, his predecessor in office, never owned a four- 
wheeled carriage, but always drove with a single horse and chaise." 

These Eustis-Lafayette souvenirs were purchased for Ridge Hill 
Farms from Fred. Hassam, of Dorchester, who bought them at 
the sale of the Eustis estate and effects, in the year a.d. 1S64. 

We must leave to the imagination of the visitor many 
articles which we cannot enumerate herein. 

The " sweetness," whatever there may be of it in this 



Ridge Hill Farms. 101 

Guide, is now long drawn out. The patience of the i*eader, 
although endowed with a large allotment from old Biblical 
Job (the supposed inventor of the Job wagon), has been, 
probably, quite exhausted. We have given that important, 
none-other-such rare-ripe scholar, the book critic, a big 
capital or Archimedian lever, with which, petard-like, to 
hoist us so far into the heavens above, and then drop us 
down, down into the region below, as to save you, reader, 
from another similar infliction to this Guide, the first 
pages of which went to press with a size selected for a ten 
to fifteen page pamphlet, which we are likely now to string 
out to near one hundred and thirty, largely because the 
printer's "devil" has so continuously pressed us "for 
copy," and our obstinate wish to u give him his dues." 

We wish to give you a bit of rest, and an opportunity to 
commune with that one whom you think the most of in all 
this world, and whom you so often lead astray, — your- 
self; we wish to tickle your individual glory, incite 
your heart to controlling you to active co-operation and 
co-association in the important work which is on before, 
and toward which this is the Guide, as will be enumerated 
in part three joined hereto. 

The hand that obeys the will of the heart has myste- 
riously lead us to dive deep into the statistics of history, 
and controlled our plumbago hieroglyphics (the frequent 



102 Giiide to the 



calls of the printer's " devil-apprentice" have led us to lay 
aside the porcupine quill) toward that work of Social 
Science, the Aim of Life, which we expected would be 
reached at a subsequent step. We do not beg you to hear 
us yet awhile and favorably consider our plea. We only 
say, if you do not care further to read this, then don't. 
Read, if you read, act, if you act, of your own free will. 
Let your heart be its own mentor. Do that which your 
heart dictates, freely, and do not wait for solicitation. If 
you take no interest, have no sympathy, in that to which 
this Guide — and the entire Ridge Hill Farms estate — por- 
tends, then say so, and oppose it with all your might 
and main; — and by so doing, you may incite to activity 
those showing a lukewarm interest, and be of more service 
than if you took out your pocket-book and helped lay the 

corner-stone. Finis. « 

Yours, at service, 

PLUMBAGO CRAYON. 

NOTE. 

Before enchaining your mind by that which follows in 
the third part, we wish to give proper credit, first, to 
Antonio Passucci, a young Italian, now having his studio 
at 7 Pemberton Square, Boston, for the large painting 
showing the State House, and the portraits of the promi- 
nent statesmen of our Massachusetts Bay Colony in the : 



Ridge Hill Farms. 103 



17th and iSth centuries, the panel paintings and the niche 
statuary of the Boat-house, and for the panel cartoons done 
by him at the Piggery. 

Second, to W. L. Williams, artist, still engaged at 
Ridge Hill Farms, who painted Lief Ericson (in less 
than ten hours' work), and that of the large cartoon 
seen on the roof of the black and gold stable, por- 
traj-ing the Horses of the Sun and the attendant Horen. 
By the aid of the Camera and lime-light this subject was 
magnified, from a five-inch square negative, to cover a can- 
vas measuring 16x34 feet; this the artist outsketched with 
charcoal crayons, in thirty-five minutes, and with a i-apid- 
ity of hand and brain quite deserving of this special com- 
mendation, finished the i-elievo painting in less than 
forty hours' actual work. He is now engaged on the 
" Union of Hopes and Union of Hearts," for the Union 
Monument Headquarters. Those qualities required by 
the host to execute numerous projected illuminations at 
fetes or surprises for the grounds, and give finishing brush- 
touches to ornamental works, buildings, &c, have been 
found in the artist Williams, and with him, and the general 
superintendent, Richard Greaves, has the host communed 
when planning the work seen accomplished at Ridge Hill 
Farms. Of the superintendent nothing need be said, inas- 
much as "by his deeds shall ye know him." The garden 



104 Guide to the 



speaks, as no words can, of the skill and taste of the man. 
Earnest, zealous, and with his whole heart engaged many, 
many, many consecutive nights, continued far into the 
morning hours, has he, with matches and candles, walked 
over the grounds with the owner, building castles in the 
air, removing obstacles to progress, projecting ornamen- 
tal water-works, fountains, artificial ponds and lakes, and 
planning wonders underground. 

The architect who has most assisted the host at Ridge 
Hill Farms is George F. Meacham, of Boston; not bound, 
as many architects are, to variations of only one school of 
study; originating with a free hand, conforming to the 
projector's views, yet finishing and harmonizing with a 
classic touch, — to him is entitled the credit of displaying 
the master-hand in all such structures as may be admired 
at Ridge Hill Farms, while those not pleasing, and where 
the " classic touch " is out of sight, may be credited to — 
somebody else. 

ERRORS AND OMISSIONS. 

Seven of those who, by special permission, were allowed 
to pass through the grapery on August 25, were reported 
as having stolen Hamburg grapes. The lady in black, 
about fifty years of age, who divided her spoils just out- 
side, did not give her son a very moral maternal lesson 



Ridge Hill Farms. 105 

Lovers of others' fruits are cautioned against man and 
woman traps, shower-baths, swarms of hornets, wasps and 
bees, so arranged that the least touch of a grape-stem may 
revolve the flapper, tumble the fluids, or electrify the var- 
mints, and get the biter bit. 

Those who used the Norino Tower as a spittoon on 
August 29, must remember that those who expectorate in 
private houses, cannot expect-to-rate as gentlemen. 

A fair sample of this class is that of a party of seven who 
came to the Registry Office on Tuesday, September 4, the 
spokesman saying, "We wish to go everywhere <v.J see 
everything on this place; will you tell us where to go?" 
The lady in charge described, in detail, the places of 
interest, and added, "You will sign your names on the 
register, and then you can go everywhere on the grounds, 
in the hot-houses, amimal houses, &c. ; but if you wish to 
go into the Tower, Arcadium, Grotto and Camera, you will 
have to pay twenty-five cents each for the service em- 
ployed." — " It is an imposition — a regular humbug — to 
get us out here and charge us this. Mr. Baker is feathering 
his pockets nicely." — " Mr. Baker does not get one cent of 
it, any more than you do, sir ; if there be anything over the 
sum necessary to pay the wage of twenty persons, em- 
ployed exclusively, by reason of permitting visitors to the 
grounds and buildings, it is to be given to a Boston cnarity ; 



io6 Guide to the 



if you came on the regular visiting days, Wednesdays or 
Saturdays, the service-fee would be only ten cents. To 
protect himself from being swarmed with visitors every 
day, and in order to cover the expense of keeping those 
employed on the off days, the fee was set at twenty-five 
cents for the off days." — "All stuff and nonsense, madam : 
I know better than that ; I don't believe a word of it. It is 
all a catch and a lie. The charity is all pop-in-cock; and 
Mr. Baker puts it all in his pocket." — "This is not a pub- 
lic garden, sir, where any one who pays can come. It is 
not advertised as you say, sir. It is a private estate, kept 
up at a great expense, very much greater expense by 
reason of the thefts, carelessness and lawlessness of the 
visitors whom he permits freely to visit the grounds, if 
they merely register their names. The fees to enter the 
buildings may cover for the service, but most certainly do 
not cover for the thefts, indiscretions and breakage, of visi- 
tors. If you object to the fee, register your name, sir, and 
you can go anywhere on the grounds except on the avenue 
immediately in front of the owner's frontdoor." — "Well, 
I am here, and I don't mean to come again, so I must, I 
suppose, submit to the extortion — here's your pay ; " and 
he ostentatiously displayed a large roll of bills, the smallest 
of which was found to be of the denomination of ten dol- 
lars ; which, as Miss Ward could not change at that hour 



Ridge Hill Farms. 107 

of the morning, one of the ladies accompanying him finally 
presented a five dollar greenback. 

This man was about fifty-five years of age, semi-gray 
hair, and keeps a hotel in Boston, the printed cards of 
which, about three weeks previous to this, Sept. 4th inst., 
were found strewn on the ground on the Arboretum Knoll, 
with a large lot of garbage from some picnic baskets, con- 
sisting of rinds of watermelons, pastry and old meat bones, 
the which are not ornamental to dressed grounds. Such 
deposits, and his insinuating language at the Registry Of- 
fice, try the patience of the owner and those assisting him, 
and suggest the thought to one and all, that it would be 
pleasing to have him keep away and leave his old bones in 
some other place. 

Many strangers, on being requested to register their 
names, say, "How absurd!" " What foolishness ! " "What 
does the old fool want us to sign our names for ! " These 
left-handed compliments to the owner and employes are not 
rare and exceptional, but frequent, and so prominent and 
annoying as to severely test the patience of a saint, though 
he may have charity oozing from every one of the pores 
in each square inch of the mortal frame. 

Those who preach about the soft answer subduing this 
tainted talk, are here wanted to practise that which they 
preach, and heap coals of fire on the heads of those " Inno- 



10S Guide to the 



cents Abroad," who, doubtless, make a large display of 
thin-skinned courtesy and politeness when in their homes. 

Miss Harriot Ward, who has the charge of the Register 
Book, and acts as an animated guide, is compelled to keep 
her tongue in perpetual motion answering funny questions, 
and is a regular American Nightingale (sister to Florence) 
in her opportunities to dispense from the medicine chest, 
indicate a quiet nook for rest to some fatigued and aged 
lady, or for some fond mother to put her baby to sleep. 
The sweet spices of her life are diversified and solaced with 
the oily talk of some, and the sharp, sour vinegar froth of 
others, fitting her to conquer, by faith and patience, while 
contending with these insect torments, quiet rest in the 
Registry Office above. To which, however, we hope she 
will not go at present, even if she is over forty, but remain 
in charge of this Registry here below, giving practical les- 
sons in courtesy and gentle bearing, even towards those 
who are forgetful of all other than their own selfish wants. 

The indiscretions for the month of August have been 
numerous and annoying. The devices to avoid paying the 
service-fee have been frequent. The reported penurious- 
ness of the host in requiring the service-fee of those who 
visit the Ridge Hill Farms, and for allowing his children 
to sell peacock feathers, have been frequent and amusing-. 
Such lack of consideration expressed by acts and words 



Ridge Hill Farms. 109 

show the character of some of our American "people;" and 
those having art galleries, or art arboretums which they 
are benevolently inclined to allow strangers to visit, have 
been constrained, by similar discourtesies and abusive 
acts, to close their doors to all. Any one wishing to 
study character can find it well diversified by passing 
any Wednesday or Saturday at the Registry Office, in 
the Grotto, or about the grounds at Ridge Hill Farms. 
Newspaper scribblers can fill a column any day with the 
peculiarities of peculiar people. 

ADDITIONS. 

Reached Ridge Hill Farms September 3, two Java deer 
from Angers. These are about two years old, full growth, 
and yet ai-e not larger than a medium-sized cat. This 
class are the cunningest little deers in the world. Deer 
Tommie died on September 4, and Little Deer Jennie 
needs your deer sympathy. 

September 9th, arrived safely the two Seneca bears here- 
inbefore described. 

Which description, on being read from printer's proof 
to Josiah Quincy, he corroborates the supposition concern- 
ing Florida having been the Garden of Eden, by the state- 
ment that other parts of our nation have some indications 
of antique visitors and settlers, inasmuch as the Potomac 
River is evidently from the Greek word jbotamos, meaning 



no Guide to the 



a river; and the Piscataqua River from the words -pisces 
ct aqua ; thus giving us some ground to think that the 
Greek and Latin races visited our shores in by-gone ages 
and left the mounds and pottery which so disturb our 
archaeologists, — unless it was by the children of Israel, who 
by some are supposed to have had the honor, long before 
Christopher Columbus, of having visited our shores, and 
deserted it by reason of the porcineograph outlines of 
these United States which they prophetically foresaw (see 
p. 131) or of some fatal disease which destroyed the settlers 
and led them ever after to eschew the porcus family and 
the country which resembled it. 

The only weak part in this chain of evidence is the fact 
that it is not recorded that the Jews spoke Latin or Greek, 
although they, of course, spoke their own language, — 
Hebrew. 

But as our venerable friend tells us of this derivation of 
the Potomac River, and as the Quincys have ever been 
prominent in good works, particularly in establishing the 
Quincy or Faneuil Hall Market, we accept his verification 
that the ancient Grecians came here, or else sent their 
language here, — which accounts (through the Quincy 
Market) for the name of " Modern Athens," because our 
citizens literally live in Grease, under the present sys- 
tem (?) of cookery. 



Ridge Hill Farms. * I \ 



®he Chanty %mwmtim 

Of land on the 7th or Charity day of the Fraternal Wel- 
come Fete (July 14th, 1S76), is bounded by Charles River 
on the south and Avest, and by Charles River Street 
on the north. It encloses 350 acres, some of it in plateaux, 
by the river side, and again, on the high land, well 
suited for cultivation; while other parts are diversified 
by hills and knolls, cold springs and pine-tree groves. 

Here is an Artificial Fish-Pond covering five acres, 
stocked two years ago with 30,000 trout spawn, and 
this spring with 2000 small-fry California salmon. Near 
by is the ornamental Wood Tower. 90 feet in height, for 
the Eclipse Windmill, which is thirty feet in diameter. 
This mill, with average wind, has about six-horse power, 
and lifts a five-inch column of water from the cold spring 
(4S degrees Fahrenheit) up to, and fills, in from four to 
five hours, the Reservoir, holding 50,000 gallons, on the 
Water Tower. 

When all the fountains are continued in full play for a 
length of time the No. 14 Blake Steam Pump can fill this 
reservoir in three hours. 

Southwest of the Artificial Fish-Pond, and near the 
Charles River, is the Riverside Herd-Barn, which in 1S71 



U2 Guide to the 



formed one of the cluster of farm buildings near the pres- 
ent site of the Chilian Pavilion. It Mas moved, full of 
ha j, over three fourths of a mile, and placed here. It 
can accommodate, in its basement and on the first floor. 
fifty cows. Those here found at the evening milking hour 
consist of the Ayrshire, Brittany and Jersey stock. The 
most interesting of the latter breed are the two mouse- 
colored cows found on the north side in the fourth and 
fifth stalls from the east end. 

One of them is called the " Belle of Wellesley" and 
was so named by the guests attending the fete on July 4, 
1S70, called the " Heifer-Calf Party ; " each one invited 
having been requested to oiler, in prose or rhyme, a name 
for the [ersey heifer, whose pedigree was specified. 

A committee of three was chosen, consisting of Rev. 
Edward Everett Hale and Franklin W. Smith, of Boston, 
and Judge James \Y. Austin, of the Sandwich Islands, who 
selected eleven names from those submitted, and these 
were put to vote until the assemblage made choice of 
" The Belle of Wellesley" and the programme of the 
christening followed. The other cow was named in a sim- 
ilar fashion on July 4, 1S71, at the fete specified as *" The 
Eddie and Walter and Belle of Wellesley' s daughter party." 



The names of the two children of the proprietor. 



Ridge Hill Farms. 11, 



The name selected was " The Maid of the Mist." These two 
cows have been exceptionally attractive on many fete days. 
yielding, apparently, an unlimited quantity of milk, which. 
on being tasted by the guests, was found to be very strong! v 
tinctured with the " plated spoon," or Old Medford, giv- 
ing rise to many surmises as to these cows having browsed 
on rum-cherry foliage. The milker was carefully scrutin- 
ized, but no trick was discovered, the guest being allowed 
to take the teat in hand and taste his own milk- 
ing. The phenomenon is thus accounted for : The fifth 
teat was of rubber, painted like the four others, and 
attached with gluten to the cow ; connected with it was a 
very small rubber tube glutinized to the hind leg and 
colored to harmonize; thence it followed the woodwork, 
painted to match, to the hayloft, and there connected 
with a receptacle of warm milk punch. 

South of this Herd-barn is the Corner-Stone Piggery, 
so named because the laying of the corner stone, on June 
19, 1S75, was the occasion of a frolic given in honor of the 
5th Maryland National Guard and representatives of the 
Washington Light Infantry of Charleston, S.C., of the 
Light Artillery Blues of Norfolk, and of the Knights Tem- 
plars of Richmond, Va., who were visiting Boston as 
participants in the Bunker Hill Centennial. 

The host received his guests in a Marquee Pavilion 



114 Guide to the 



on the Conservatory Lawn near his residence. They then 
marched in procession or were conveyed in picnic wagons 
to the site of the new piggery. Prominent guests were 
seated on the platform there erected, and the others gath- 
ered on the sidj of Charity Hill. The Rev. Minot J. 
Savage, of Boston, opened the proceedings by prayer that 
from this frolic goo.l might come; that men as they re- 
ceived pleasure should he mindful of extending it to those, 
daily met, overburdened with the cares and ills of life. 

The Governor, William Gaston, followed, welcoming 
the guests from the South to the farm districts of Massa* 
chusetts. Curtis Guild, representing the city authorities, 
apologized for the absence of the Mayor in such a fashion 
as elicited roars of laughter from the three thousand 
guests assembled on the hillside. 

Col. Andrews, of South Carolina, responded lor the 
Southern guests in such choice language as won for him 
the admiration of all the la. lies present. The host then 
improvised a part which was as much a surprise to the 
Marshals as to every one else, excepting Col. Jenkins, the 
Commander of the Maryland 5th Regiment, to whom he 
communicated his thought, and finding that the joke was 
heartily endorsed, he addressed Col. Jenkins, saying that 
he found his Regiment lacking in only one particular, 
that of not having any adopted '; Daughter of the Regi- 



Ridge Hill Farms. \ 15 

frient," as had many European military organizations. 
Therefore the host proposed to offer the Maryland 5th tine 
fille du regiment — would the Regiment adopt her? The 
responsive " A ye " was strong and unanimous, and was 
onlj' drowned by the cheers and roars of laughter which 
followed the host's taking from a large basket, which was 
just then brought to him, a small white pig, and presenting 
it with all due formality to Col. Jenkins, who responded, 
holding with his left hand the little infant to his heart, 
while the right hand moved in harmony to his felicitous 
speech, which continued the laughter. As he was about 
to return to his seat the host again addressed him, saying 
that there had been a mistake made by his farm errand 
boy sent to get the pig, who had been directed to bring a 
Berkshire, which was of stock that had been imported 
direct to Ridge Hill Farms from the Queen of England's 
farm at Windsor, — thinking it appropriate, in this Cen- 
tennial year, to symbolize the good feeling then existing 
between Old England, from whom we cut the apron strings 
one hundred years ago, and Massachusetts, Maryland and 
the South, with the latter having had more recently some 
misunderstanding. But now, as in all other cases, the 
white had got ahead of the black species, yet the host 
tendered the Berkshire, of another sex, to keep the Ches- 
ter company. At this offering of the black pig there 



1 6 Guide to the 



were loud cheers for "The Twins." The continuance of 
this history of the miscegenation twins may he better 
described by here copying the following letter from the 
host, and the account from the Baltimore newspapers of 
what followed : — 

RidGE Hill Farms, 

WELLESLEY, Mass., June 29, 1S75. 
Col. J. Stricker Jenkins, 

Fifth Regiment Maryland National Guard, Batti~ 
///!>/■(•, Afd. 

My dear Sir. — The daughter of your regiment, or the 
younger of the two Centennial pigs presented to you at 
the laying of the corner-stone of the new piggery at Ridge 
Hill Farms, Wellesley, is yet only a sucking pig from a 
litter of [une 6, and I have therefore delayed forwarding 
it. 1 intend to send her by Adams & Co.'s Express, Fri- 
day evening, July 2. 

These two Centennial pigs — the white Chester (the 
daughter ^\~ your regiment), born in Massachusetts, and 
her black Berkshire cousin, of dam horn at the Queen of 
England's farm at Windsor — arriving in Baltimore on the 
Fourth of July, may well typify the olive-branch and 
good-cheer bond no~v existing between Great Britain, 
Maryland and the good old Commonwealth of Massachu- 
setts. 



Ridge Hill Farms. 117 

These porcine souvenirs of jour visit to Ridge Hill 
Farms will go forward in a wire cage. I had this cage 
arranged with four arms, so that porters could bear it on 
their shoulders from the Baltimore depot to your armory, 
in company with three of my fete marshals, whom I had 
delegated to convey and present to your regiment a ban- 
ner to souvernize its participation at the June 19 fete ; but 
the superlative warmth of your complimentary newspaper 
reports. &c, towards Bostonians has so frightened me that 
I do not dare let any of my friends make an attempt to go 
through Baltimore. If your kind-hearted distemper tow- 
ard Bostonians is contagious, I fear your Adjutant General 
will order out, as escort to these pigs, on the Fourth 
of July celebration not only the Fifth Regiment, but all 
the other regiments of your State, and also invite the co- 
operation of those of all the other Southern States. I 
therefore send as a personal escort to the file da reginient, 
one who is proof against all heat, be it of jour kind hearts 
or oi the present season; viz., one of the representatives 
of the Devil's Den at Ridge Hill Farms. As I send, how- 
ever, only the shell, you will have to find one from your 
own ranks to animate the devil. As the disturbed spirit 
who roams around the shell of our mother earth seeks most 
to bend the twig of childhood to formulate the rebellious 
man, I also send the shell of one of those babies found in 



Ii8 Guide to the 



the woods on June 19, into which you can place the biggest 
" bab v " of your command, and on his and the devil's 
shoulders convey the daughter of the regiment and her 
cousin from the depot to your armory. 

Thanking you for giving me the opportunity to receive 
your regiment at my farms, regretting that some of my 
good intentions, by reason of the storm, came to naught, 
I am, my dear sir. with three strings of distinguished 
consideration, a kernel (by brevet) of your honored regi- 
ment. W. E. BAKER. 

N.B. — At a suitable time, when you have had time 
to cool from your, at present, nine-days' warmth tow- 
ards Bostonians, T shall take the opportunity to send 
you by the hands of a few lady and gentlemen friends the 
banner, &c, for your command. W. E. B." 

The proceedings at Baltimore are reported as follows in 
the Baltimore " News : " — 

■• A.S was predicted, yesterday was a jolly Fourth of July. 
The people were aroused at early dawn of day by the ring- 
ing of ' Big Sam.' a patriotic treat that no other city in 
the Union enjoyed. The arrival of the pigs from the 
Ridge Hill Farms was the grand event of the day. The 
Hub porkers reached the city early in the forenoon, and 
were kept in charge by David Boswell. 61 Granby Street, 



Ridge Hill Far jus. 119 

until the escort made its appearance. A * News ' reporter, 
having spent the da}' in reading the story of Washington 
and his little hatchet, as laid down in the order of the day 
by his superior officers, sallied forth to interview the 
porkers. 

DESCRIPTION OF THE PIGS. 

The little pig ; Loney,' he found to be a delicate blonde, 
weighing about seven pounds. Mr. Boswell was kind 
enough to drive his wagon behind the Point Market, to 
allow the enthusiastic in the crowd an opportunity to 
greet the stranger. ' Pontier,' the big pig, was dark- 
complexioned, the hair being mixed with gray. ' Pon- 
tier, 1 it was learned, devoured more soft crabs, fried 
oysters, spring chickens, Mary's little lambs, &c, than 
any other pig during the laving of the corner stone of 
Mr. Baker's new pig-stve, and yet it squeaked ; Let us 
have peas.' This, no doubt, accounts for the difference 
in the weight of 'Pontier' and * Loney,' who don't like 
such things. At five o'clock the Fifth Regiment, in 
disguise, called for the pork. The escort was headed by 
a band of music, the notes of which have seldom, if ever, 
been surpassed. G. II. Spilfcer, Jr., was marshal of 
police, and wore the uniform of the man who first 
invented that valuable institution. Big Chief, T. J. 
Owens, furnished tobacco to the tribe, who delighted in 



120 Guide to the 



the abundance of native product. The Modocs, headed 
by ' Captain Jack Holt,* the railroad savage, were ' Scar 
Faced Charley,' ' Shacknasty Jim,' ' Lonely Wolf,' { Square- 
Nosed Ike,' ' Scalp Snatcher,' ' Lava-bed William,' ' Great 
Father's Son,' 'Washington Murphy,' 'Ulysses' Bull 
Dog,' "Reporters' Skull Scraper," "Much Mush Johnny,' 
1 Starve-us-not-Phillip,' ' Let-us-have-wings Tommy,' and 
others with names equally as poetical and expressive. 
The savages were scattered through the streets to prevent 
the ladies from stealing the pigs. The big chiefs, how- 
ever, rode in a gaily decorated wagon, with a 'News' 
reporter as interpreter. 

THE Kl-KLl'X KLANS. 

The K.K.KYs, about whom so much has been said, and 
who caused so much legislation and stir in Washington, 
were telegraphed for, and assisted in safely escorting the 
pigs from South Broadway to the armory. They were in 
charge of D. W. Gillespy, who has been missing from 
the community since the close of the late onpleasantness. 
Their grim visages and mortuary costumes inspired an 
awe suitable to the occasion. The police, though armed 
with revolvers and clubs, stood aside and seemed to say, 
' Mr. Ku-Kluxes, please pass on off my beat.' An old 
lady, who had stepped out to get a cent's worth of milk, 
and who doubtless had not read the ' News,' was 



R it Ige Hill Fa mis. 121 

taken by surprise at the approach of the savages, and 
caused some merriment by darting into the house, and 
spilling the lacteal fluid over her new Fourth of July 
dress. The last seen of her, she was hanging out of a 
third-story window with a broom in her hand, looking to 
see if any of the varmints had got loose from the gang and 
were lagging behind. 

THE PIGS. 

The pigs were mounted on a gaily festooned express 
wagon drawn by the finest horses in the city. During the 
route of procession, when they would recognize any of the 
boys of the Fifth who chanced to be undisguised, the 
porkers, who squealed from fright, seemed to know what 
the regiment did at Mr. Baker's farm while they were 
there, and trembled for their lives. 

BABES IX THE WOOD. 

Immediately behind the pigs, on the same wagon, lay 
the infant that was found in the woods by the Fifth during 
their fete at Ridge Hill Farms. 

The devil kept an eye on old father Time, as the last- 
named gently brushed the flies from off the baby with a 
palm-leaf fan. Garbage horns were used to amuse the 
babe and keep it from crying. 

THE ROUTE OF PROCESSION. 

The route of procession was the satne as printed in the 



122 Guide to the 



daily papers. Broadway was densely crowded by anxious 
bystanders of all classes in life, who were eager to witness 
the carnival. As the procession moved along Baltimore 
Street, tbe crowd swelled at every step, and when it at 
length halted at the armory, the multitude was countless. 

at tup: armory. 
Upon reaching Parade Avenue, the lost baby, whom 
some one thought was little Charlie Ross, was carried in 
and laid upon the floor. It did some crying, as was nat- 
urally expected, the large hall being tilled with strangers. 
Some candies were administered, but the youngster con- 
tinued to yell until some one spoke of sirup of squills and 
paregoric, and then the infantile music at once ceased, and 
the ladies took it in charge and put it in its little bed. 

BRING ON VOIR PIGS. 

The squeakers were next seized by the Modocs and car- 
ried in, guarded by the K.K.K.'s. A gun-stand was placed 
in the centre of the spacious armory, and the objects of 
attraction carefully laid upon it. The ladies in the 
galleries tried the suicidal plan of letting themselves drop 
from their elevated position in their anxiety to welcome 
the little guests, but they were held back by their gentle- 
men friends. As ' Lone y ' is young and tender, a guard 
was placed around hrm to keep off the rush. The officers 



Rid ore Hill Farms. 



123 



who had been mounted on mules sent them home to their 
owners. The crowd soon dispersed, and the grandest 
carnival that Baltimore ever witnessed was at an end." 

The Hog — Porcus (or Snidce Sus of the ancients) — 
family, in its wild and in its domesticated state, has habits 
which make it prominent above all other animals. 

They are thick-skined, and to the general observer 
are obtuse in most of their faculties. To the contrary, 
however, their sense of smell, sight and taste are in high 
perfection. The sense of hearing is very acute. They 
prefer vegetable to animal food. They are voracious, 
bold, and of immense strength. In their wild state they 
are the fiercest denizens of the forests of Europe and Asia. 
The lower grade called peccary, found extensively in 
Central and South America, is of a small size, and although 
not so strong as the true hog, yet most disagreeable to 
contend with, and man has but a slight chance of escape 
if attacked by them. They herd together, and are said to 
have leaders, or such as direct them in their fights. If 
taken young, they display great affection for such as are 
kind to them, and affiliate with dogs or other pet animals. 

There are many species of the hog family which are 
only of the Irish-cousin relationship or family to the perfect- 
ed porcus, such as the Guinea pig, the hog-deer of Java 
and the Indian Archipelago, the four-horned hog of Abys- 



124 Guide to tki 



sinia. The -cater hog, semi-web-footed, lives upon fruit, 
coi-n, sugar-canes, and eats all the fish it can catch. The 
Spanish tatous (hogs in armor), the Dutch porcupine, 
called the iron-hog: the porpoise has by some been des 
ignated as the sea-hog, and Aristotle writes of the hog-ape. 

More than of any other animal, naturalists have studied 
the habits of the hog family. 

Cuviers memoir on the fossil bones of the hog, to the 
French Academy, in 1S09, Professor Owen in his work- 
on Brtish Fossil Mammalia, and numerous other writers, 
have attracted the attention of other than naturalists to 
this higher order of animal life. 

The term hog is derived from a Hebrew word, meaning 
to encompass or surround ; suggested by the round figure 
in his fat and most natural state, and " narrow eyes." 

1491 B.C., Moses inscribed those laws which imply that 
pork must have been the prevailing food of the Israelites 
prior to that date. The Greeks held it in high esteem, 
while with the Romans every art was put in practice to 
impart a finer and more delicate flavor to the flesh, to 
gratify the epicureanism of this people. 

Pliny writes that they fed swine on dried figs, and 
drenched them to repletion with honeyed wine. The 
Porcus Trojanus was a very celebrated dish, and one that 
eventually became so extravagantly expensive, that a 



Ridge 'Hill Farms. 125 

sumptuary law was passed respecting it. It consisted of 
a whole hog with the entrails drawn out, and the inside 
stuffed with thrushes, larks, becaficos, oysters, nightin- 
gales, and delicacies of every kind, and the whole bathed 
in wine and gravies. Another dish was a hog served 
whole, the one side roasted, the other boiled. 

Varro records that the Gauls produced the finest swine"s 
flesh, and Strabo reports that in the reign of Augustus, 
they supplied Rome and all Italy with gammons, hog- 
pudding, hams and sausages.* 

Some of the ancients have held the hog as entitled to 
divine honor. In the Island of Crete it was regarded as 
sacred, and in several parts of India it was regarded as the 
favored of the gods, and the best intermediator for man. 
The Jews, Egyptians, and followers of Mohammed, alone 
appear to have abstained from its vise. Tacitus writes 
that the Jews abstained from it in consequence of a leprosy 
to which the hog is very subject. Plutarch and other 
writers write concerning the flesh being strong, oleagin- 
ous, difficult of digestion, and liable to produce cutaneous 
diseases ; and state that the Israelites were overrun with 



* Two young graduates of Harvard College, resident in Southboro' 
and Framingham, Mass., are now doing the same work for our Boston, 
excepting only the hog pudding, which no doubt would have a large 
sale if as dainty as their sweetmeats of pork. 



126 Guide to the 



leprosy at the period of their quitting Egypt. Thus Moses 
found it necessary to enact a law prohibiting the use of 
swine flesh. Plutarch states that those who drank the milk 
of the swine, became blotchy and leprous. 

Abstinence being necessary to health, the burning sun 
in Egypt, Syria, and parts of Greece, will account for the 
prohibition of pork by the priests and legislators. 

" Order is Heaven's first law." " Cleanliness is next to 
godliness." The hog is naturally much more cleanly in 
his habits than many of those who say he isn't. 

A writer in the sixteenth century asserts squarely, that 
" the hog is the cleanest of all animals." Many other nat- 
uralists endorse this. Martin writes, that " if the stye or 
yard be covered with filth, it is as disgraceful to the keeper 
as it is injurious to the animal. The hog actually suffers, 
for naturally he delights in clean straw; his twinkling 
eyes and low grunt expressing his feelings of content- 
ment." * 



* The "Naturalist Library" gives this incident: "A pig that 
had been kept several days a close prisoner to his stye, was let out 
for the purpose of its being cleansed and his bed replenished. The 
pig immediately ran to the stable, from which he carried several 
sheaves of straw to his stye, each time holding them in his 
mouth by the band. The straw, being intended for another use, 
was carried back to the stable ; but the pig, at the first favorable 
opportunity, regained it." 



Ridge Hill Farms. 127 

The only motive which induces the hog to wallow in 
the mire is to protect his skin in the heat of summer from 
the scorching rajs of the sun, and from the attack of 
winged-insect persecutors. In France, the traveller will 
find the pig in the houses of the peasantry, scrupulously 
neat, and displaying great affection towards those who are 
kind to them. This bond of sympathy becomes so strong 
that when the killing-time comes, the services of a neigh- 
bor have to be asked to kill their j>et. 

The pig, if allowed his liberty, will avoid all filth, and if 
petted will become as obedient as the dog, and display a 
greater sagacity or reasoning power. Darwin says, " It is 
a sure sign of cold wind when pigs collect straw in their 
mouths and run about crying loudly." Foster says, 
"When hogs shake the stalks of corn, and thereby spoil 
them, it indicates rain." Linnaeus records that "the 
hog is more nice in the selection of his vegetable diet 
than any of our other domesticated herbivorous animals, 
rejecting all but 72 varieties of plants, while the horse, 
sheep, goat and cow eat from 262 to 449 varieties. 

In France and Italy, swine are employed in hunting for 
truffles, that grow six inches below the surface of the soil; 
wherever they stop and begin to root with their nose, 
truffles will invariably be found. If, then, as naturalists 
assert, the pig is gifted with an exquisite sense of smell, 



128 Guide to the 



they must be acutely sensitive to all the injurious physical 
influences arising from the filth in which they are impris- 
oned, and their flesh must consequently be affected by 
trichinaea, or otherwise poisoned for table use. We are 
led to enlarge upon this subject of the fiorens family, 
its care. &c, inasmuch as its flesh is more generally 
used for table food than that of any other animal. 

It is the flesh food most preferred and consumed in each 
one of our union of States. By reference to the Statistical 
Department at Washington, we find that that portion of 
these which have been raised in the cornfields of the West 
are sound and healthy. But excepting a few, who care for 
their pigs as daintily as the Harvard graduates hereinbe- 
fore cited — who will no doubt be surprised at this unan- 
nounced allusion — most of the pigs raised among what 
may be called our home farmers, are kept in filthy pens 
and yards, and the flesh is unfit for market. 

The flesh of those swine fed on city garbage is liable to 
be unfit for market, inasmuch as this garbage is often fer- 
mented and sour. And thus the City of Boston, by the 
disposition of its garbage, directly aids — unless by a more 
thorough supervision by its Board of Health — in filling 
our hospital wards with patients diseased from eating un- 
wholesome pork. 



Ridge Hill Farms. I2 9 



And here may be the proper place to inform you that 
we have led you, reader, purposely in the dark as to the 
real object of this printed Guide. We have apparently 
digressed from our guide-walk, and introduced history, 
mythology, and alluded to peculiar acts of city officials; 
but there has been a motive in all this — partly to interest 
and amuse, but looking toward a reform much needed 
in this age so tinctured with bribery and legislative 
or other executive enactments to benefit the few at 
the expense of the many. Will you co-operate in this 
reform ? Please to take out your pencil and jot down your 
approval or criticisms upon this that herein follows. 

Agassi/ tells us that fish diet improves the brain. 
Although the fish has the smallest brain, compared to its 
size, of all animal life, Agassiz's statement may possibly 
be true, by reason of the phosphates composing its flesh ; 
yet he omits to inform us that the cookery of fish lets go 
the phosphates or ozmozone, consequently the brain would 
be much more active if we did, as consumers of their own 
species do, swallow the fish alive, and thus get all the 
phosphates.* 



* The recent discoveries of a gentleman in the State of Maine, 
that the juices expressed from the ilesh of the manhaden, separated 
from the oil, is not distinguishable, when similar!}' served, from beef 
tea, is destined to revolutionize our hospital life, and, we hope, will 



13° 



Guide to the 



If fish diet improve the hrain of the human species, may 
Ave not adduce the fact that swine flesh will debase or ele- 
vate the intellect of our race, according as it is more or less 
inflicted by trichinaea, from being imprisoned in filthy 
pens and yards? 

Although the writer never eats any part of the swine, 
he vet believes its flesh may agree, when properly bred 
and cured, with others' palates. 

The Hog family displays more intellect, or are intui- 
tively more susceptible of education, than any other animal. 
In recognition of this we have the " Porcellian Club," one 
of the most reclusive of the social clubs at the Harvard 
University. There was on exhibition in Philadelphia, 
during the Centennial season, an educated pig, of which 
many have been exhibited throughout the country. By 
kind treatment lie has been taught to look at vour 
watch, and on being asked to tell you the time, to 
pick up and deposit at your feet the number or num- 
bers nearest to the hour indicated by your watch. 
On being asked to tell you who was one of the 
greatest statesmen of our age, or in answer to other ques- 
tions worded by the visitor, he would pick up the card 

lessen the quantity of poisoned leaf tea now imported from the so- 
called " heathen Chinee, ? ' who seems to be, however, •' civilized" in 
his adulterations. 



Ridge Hill Farms. 131 

having the name of Daniel Webster, or of some other, upon 
it as would in piggy's mind (?) properly answer the ques- 
tion. Arithmetical questions in addition, multiplication 
and subtraction were also correctly answered. This was 
by no trick of the showman. Similarly educated pigs are 
recorded by naturalists. One was exhibited in Pali Mall, 
London, in the year 17S9, which had been taught to pick 
up letters, written upon pieces of card, and arrange them 
into words. As the Universal Yankee Nation are known 
as a " calculating" race, it is eminently proper that this 
animal of mind, tbe calculating Hog, should symbolize us 
as a nation. 

We have no cause then to be ashamed of the porcineo- 
graph designed by the host at Ridge Hill Farms, and given 
by him as a Centennial souvenir in 1S76 to such residents in 
Virginia, South Carolina, and the South, as participated 
the previous year at the laying of the corner-stone of the 
Ridge Hill Farms Piggery. 

It portrays the geographical outline of this Union of 
3S States, exactly as shown by the U. S. surveys of 1S70. 
to which, however, is added one imaginary leg with its foot 
resting on Cuba. It adopts Lower California as a second 
leg, and the third is shown reaching to Sandwich, pacifically 
the Sandwich Islands. Alas-queue is shown as the ;< caudal 
appendage " by special act of Congress ; and it only requires 



J3 3 Guide to the 



the angle of Canadian territory between the Northern 
Lakes, called Ilydro-Ceflhalus, because it is the ' ; Recip- 
rocity I to complete the gehography of the United 
States. 

The corner-stone of the Piggery was laid with all due 
formality, the voluntary offerings from the guests placed 
thereunder, consisting of buttons cut from the military 
coats, coins, and all sorts of keepsakes from the pocket, 
pipes of peace, newspapers from Boston, Rhode Island, 
New York, Virginia, North and South Carolina, and 
other States, &c., &c. 

One of the Boston newspapers, when giving an account 
'of this fete, reported that there was a great demand for 
souvenirs, and that " three Governors were seen hanging 
to one rope" when lowering the corner-stone to its place. 
This was only two thirds true, inasmuch as the Governors 
of Massachusetts and Rhode Island were active in this 
duty; but Colonel Andrews, who was sent to represent 
the State as spokesman, was not the Governor of South 
Carolina, although he soon would be if the election rested 
with the Boston ladies. 

Leaving the Corner-stone Piggery, the visitor will turn 
south by the borders of Charles River, then east up 
Bellevue Avenue to and either by Pine Avenue through 
the pine woods on Charity Hill, to the open field east of 



Ridge Hill Farms. 133 

• the Windmill Tower, or eUe continue on Bellevue Avenue. 
on hill, through dale and pine groves skirting the ser- 
.penthie Charles River, lor one mile, to the house now in 
•course of alteration, commenced September 1st, for 
summer boarders in 1S78. This house stands on high 
land, which shelves down to the Riverside Plateau, like 
•an inverted bowl, reminding the traveller of the castel- 
lated hills on the River Rhine. 

■- This (unless some better name is. selected) may be 
-called the Governors' Castle, inasmuch as it may be used 
to shelter such of the Governors of our respective States 
■ as accept hospitalities in these quarters, and participate in 
laving the corner-stone of the Ridge Hill Laboratory. 

The first step toward the erection of this Laboratory on 
the Pine Ridge, southeast of the Windmill Tower, was 
-taken on August 27, 1S77, by Mr. Greaves setting the first 
levelling stake, and Eddie, the elder son of the proprietor, 
removing the first shovelful of earth. On September 3, at 
six o'clock p.m., Master Eddie Farnsworth Baker, with 
his six-year-old brother, Walter Farnsworth Baker, laid 
and cemented the first stone of the foundation for the 
corner-stone at the northeast corner, as has been the 
custom from remote ages. Kernels of corn and crumbs 
of bread, emblems of food staples, were strewn upon the 
cement by the thirteen guests assembled, who sang u> Araer- 



J 34 Guide to the 



ica," "When shall we meet again," and other appropriate 
hymns, and the improvised ceremonies ended. 

Adjacent to this Laboratory there has been commenced, 
September i, the digging for the foundation of a building 
to be erected under the management of Mr. Alfred Green, 
builder, of Philadelphia, to be completed this fall, with over 
one hundred dormitories for the accommodation of summer 
boarders in 187S. Unless a better name is suggested, this 
will be known as the Hotel Trephis, from the Greek word 
trcpho, meaning to nourish. It will be under the manage- 
ment of such employes of the Massachusetts Institute of 
Cookery, which is to have its headquarters in Boston, 
whose services are not required in Boston during the warm 
months of summer. 

The Philadelphia Fairmount Park Commissioners or- 
dered all the Centennial buildings removed from the Park 
grounds, and consequently these buildings were bought at 
auction, at such a sacrifice that this will cost, when fin- 
ished, at Ridge Hill Farms, discarding all but the frame 
timbers and ornamental work, and using new stock for 
outside and inside finishing, only one third of that which 
it originally cost at Philadelphia. 

The Restaurant and Cafe connected with the Ridge Hill 
Hotel will cater to the wants of the two or three thou- 
sand of visitors now weekly visiting the Ridge Hill Farms, 



Ridge Hill Farms. 135 

and of such clubs or special parties as wish to pass one 
day or more in the Tharis Home Hotel, in the pine 
woods, and in boating and fishing on Charles River. 

The initiatory step has been taken toward this Restau- 
rant; and in order to get familiar somewhat with the capa- 
city of those soliciting positions as teachers in the Institute 
of Cookery, there has been established a Lunch Department 
connected with the Registry Office, where visitors can 
obtain a cold lunch, or, by prior order given at 13 West 
Street, Boston, or at the Registry Office, can get a specially 
prepared hot dinner served in one of the rooms of the 
Virg'nia Lodge, which is adjacent to the Registry Office. 

Preliminary to the organization of the Massachusetts 
Institute of Cookery, there will be opened in November, 
under the direction of the projectors of this work, a School 
of Cookery at 158 Tremont Street, Boston. Early applica- 
tion should be made at 13 West Street by those desiring to 
join the classes, which will be composed of from six to 
twelve, and must at the outset be limited in number. 

In addition to teaching the art of Sanitary Cookery, there 
will be classes in the use of the microscope for the detec- 
tion of adulterations of articles used for table food, for the 
study of the condition or purity and wholesomeness of an- 
imal food, and the study of the elements producing fungi, 
or decomposing their material or the air which supplies 



1^6 Guide to the 



the breath of life, with kindred subjects, in November next, 
at the Boston Aquarium, 13 West Street, Boston. 

This- is that which has been too long neglected, and de- 
pendent upon which is the health and intelligence of our 
race. Should we not regard cause and effect as studiously as 
Mose.s regarded the sanitary state of his people, and as the 
Romans by enacting sumptuary laws controlled their race 
from degeneracy? Is it not true that the brain is acutely 
sensitive to that with which the stomach is fed? Of what 
use arc our higher universities of learning, if we neglect 
the so-called cook, whose lack of knowledge of sanitary 
cookery so upsets physically as to render the brain dor- 
mant to all tuition, no matter how learned the teacher? 
If the National and State Executive encourage institutions 
for the education of our race, is it not of equal — yea, of 
prior and fundamental — importance that it should seek to 
control the brain towards educational influences, by enact- 
ing laws, and the appointment of special officers to en- 
force the same, controlling — 

First, the breeding and care of animals whose flesh is 
intended for consumption ; 

• Second, the adulterations of articles intended for table 
or animal food ;* 

* Through inefficient laws, or the inefficient enforcement of the laws, 
this, may be truthfully known as The Ad idle rated Age, inasmuch as 
purity is rare, and adulteration abundant. 






Ridge Hill Farms. 137 

Third, by encouraging with a fostering care such insti- 
tutions as shall teach the art of preparing- articles in- 
tended for consumption, and that of Sanitary Cookery, 
which, more than other science, controls the intelligence 
of our race. 

Is it presuming too much to hope that our Civil-service 
President, and his Temperance Reform help-mate, may 
find it both agreeable, convenient, and think it their official 
duty, to aid or encourage the establishment of such co- 
operative Institutes of Cookery, in each one of our thirty- 
eight United States? 

The prevention of disease among our general citizens 
of all classes, as well as in the army corps-, is of more con- 
sequence than attention to its cure by the Medical Depart- 
ment. Then is it not of such paramount importance as to 
justify the executive thought to the cause and effect of this 
that may save the intellect of our entire race ; that ele- 
vates or debases and intoxicates the Executive, Legisla- 
ture and Judiciary, and is the foundation of crime, de- 
generacy and its attendant pandemonium ? Would that the 
heads of the National Executive could regard this move- 
ment with such interest as to determine to accommodate 
other duties to the endorsement by their presence at the 
start of this new movement, namely, the laying of the 
corner-stone of the Laboratory on the Charity Reserva- 



13 s Guide to the 



tion at Ridge Hill Farms, which (with the Governors' 
Castle) is to be under the management of the organiza- 
tion wo wish to establish, with headquarters in Boston, 
under the name of ''The Massachusetts Institute of 
Cookery." We hope that the Governors, those ex- 
ecutive heads of the several States, who may at this Fete 
assemble, will take such active interest in this important 
work as to encourage the establishing of sister or co-asso- 
ciate institutes for cookery in their respective Stat 

Cannot those Ex2cut:ve officials of each of our Union 
of Stales, accommodate their duties at home to their 
attendance at the Fete day, September 20th, 1S77 ; reach* 
■ estate on September 19th. and there remaining 
after the Fete in social re-union for the benefit of con- 
currence in other matters of social science until Monday, 
September 24th ? Should any of the National Executive 
department at Washington favorably consider this urgent 
hope for their presence, there will be placed at their 
disposal the only : ' White House" on the estate, while 
the State Executives will have quarters in the Gov- 
ernors' Castle, the Virginia Lodge and the Singed-Cat 
Cottage (an old Centennial farm mansion, so called be- 
cause more comfortable inside than the outer shell indi- 
cates). 

May we expect the sympathy of the State Legislature 



Ridge Hill Farms. 139 



in granting such .pecuniary or other concessions as shall 
develop the grains of seed into the full-grown plant? 

May we not hope that the officials of the city of Boston 
will regard this work as of equal importance to that of 
free travel on the East Boston ferries? 

Is it asking too much of the City of Boston that its . 
school committee require the study, by the senior female 
class in all our public schools, of that medical chemistry 
that is the foundation of our physical system, that prevents 
or causes disease, that dormatizes or increases the vigor 
of the brain, — in fact, upon which depends the intelligence 
of our race? We mean that chemical knowledge of the. 
composition of every article used in the preparation of 
table food, and the chemical product of assimilating any 
two or more of them. Is the education of the female com- 
plete without a knowledge of these chemicals which are 
the make-up of hygienic cookery ? Is not cookery the basis 
of vigorous health of both body and mind, according as 
those who cater to our food requirements supply us with 
that which is composed of ^^adulterated materials of the 
best quality, so assimilated by heat as to retain the ozone 
or electric air, helping solution with animal juices of the 
animal flesh, and be made palatable by an attractive 
aroma, or of disease, imbecility and death, by our 
recklessly bolting that pandemonium of vegetable and 



i^jo Guide to the 



animal oil and grease, in solution, with nitric, sulphuric 
and muriatic acids, a combination of mineral and chemical 
poisons which incites a taste for those fluids which com- 
pletes the work and embalms the physical and enfeebles 
the mental organs of those who crowd our streets, our exec- 
utives, our hospitals, and finally our beautiful cemeteries? 

The intelligence of our race is, without doubt, more 
distributed; but are the literati of the so-called " Modern 
Athens," Boston, in advance of that of the old savans in 
ancient Greece? 

Do we give that attention to sumptuary laws, to the an- 
nihilation of all offenders who manufacture or sell poison 
adulterated with our food materials ? Are the cunning arts 
and devices of such offenders sufficiently subject to the 
criminal courts? 

Are the people properly protected by the Judiciary from 
these poisonous influences which sap the foundation of 
all sanitary laws, destroy health, induce crime, and 
tend generally to the demoralization of hygienics, as well 
as to law and order? 

Do not the cunning arts of the advocate, procrastinate 
the trial, and then by some legal quibble, make inoperative 
the punishment for offences notoriously proved? 

Do we not need new measures to conform with the 
-peculiar cunning of the age — a judiciary of public opinion 



Ridge Hill Farms, 141 

which shall not be trammelled by town or State lines, 
but whose decisions against offenders of our social life, be 
it from poisoning our food from selfish gain, or by attacks 
on individual character in the public prints, or by other en- 
croachments on individual rights and social exclusiveness? 

Can we get justice in a more sure, prompt and efficient 
fashion through the courts, or by the establishment of such 
a conservative board of honorable men, above reproach 
and political bias, for each ward, district, State, and the 
nation, each in affiliation with the other, as shall 
calmly hear all evidence, pro and con., decide the guilt or 
innocence, and the punishment of the guilty by such a 
re-establishment of the old-fashioned pillory as shall 
monumentalize the acts of the offender to the odium of the 
general public? 

Reader, do you sympathize with this thought? Will 
you join the " Friday Social Reform Club," devoted to 
denouncing, in such fashion as maybe best for the general 
good, for general Odium in the pillory, located in public 
resorts in the city and State, on every Friday (hangman's 
day) such offences as shall be decided as worthy of desecra- 
tion, by a Conservative Executive ? 

Will not those in each ward or subdivision of wai'd, 
town or city, who sympathize with this plan select a few 
energetic men, of reliable reputation, to act as lieutenants, 



142 . Guide to the 



captains, supervisors and conservative counsellors, and push 
hard to organize a subdivision of the Friday Reform Club ? * 



* At the time of the Boston fire of November io, 1S73, a trader en 
Winter Street, Boston, had verbally agreed to lease an estate to one who 
had made every preparation to occupy it; but the contract not having 
signed on Monday, November 11, the lessor sends word to the con- 
tracting party that he must agree to pay five hundred dollars per annum 
additional, or he should refuse to sign the lease; to which dishonorable 
extortion he was compelled to yield, having g >ne too far to recede with- 
out a greater expense. 

At the time of the Globe Theatre district lire, May 30, 1S73, the father 
of this extortioner was guilty of exactly the same act; in this case the 
owner of Ridge Hill Farms was the sufferer, and 13 West Street the 
subject matter. More recently tins same man, learning that the lease of 
one who had occupied the same warehouse for many years would soon 
terminate, and that the occupant would be greatly inconvenienced if 
compelled to move, by connivance contracted with the lessor at an ad- 
vancud rent, and turning on the occupant, compelled him to pay him 
fifteen hundred dollars bonus for the renewed lease. 

The judiciary does not reach such cases. A court of public opinion, 
only, can tend to prevent a repetition of such offences against honorable 
dealing. 

If such as sympathize with such an organization, will evidence their 
interest, by getting their friends, acquaintances and neighbors to notify 
their desire to join, and also to subscribe ior, say " The Friday Record 
and Social Science Weekly," a small-sized newspaper, devoted, 1st, 
to sanitary cookery, new preparations, best methods of making bread, 
preservation of articles intended for table food, best modes of trans- 
porting animal food, detection of adulterations in articles intended for 
table food, 6zc. ; 

3d. Friday Pillory or Correctionary Department. Examination of 
offences by individual, public press, &c, against personal rights; epi- 



• Ridge Hill Farms. 143 

The organization of the Massachusetts Institute of 
Cookery, as projected by the proprietor of Ridge Hill 
Farms, is as follows, but which may be materially amended 
by the t;obcr reflections of those co-associating to work 
out the scheme : — 

1 st. Organization as a corporation under the general 

taphs, caricatures and illustrations, monumentalizing such as are 
offenders against the laws of society, making the editor or proprietor 
responsible for errors of his apprentice who has been allowed the col- 
umns of the respectable journal " to sling malicious ink; " 

3d. To similarly epitaphilize such officials as yield to the peculiar 
pressure of interested parties, and so legislate for the beneiit of the few 
as shall be at the expense of the man}'. 

The first care of this order to be that of taking every possible step 
to prevent thirty-nine fortieths of the capital represented in Boston 
proper, from paying the cost of running the free ferriage for the one 
fortieth represented by residents in East Boston z'wproper; and also de- 
voting our heads, hands, feet and pocket-books in preventing the re- 
election of such officials as voted for, and do not now recant, this prece- 
dent, so dishonorable and damaging to the best interests of the City of 
Boston. 

Members of this Friday Club should not be bound to vote for any one 
to political office, merely because such or such an one was a member of 
" our club." Many deliberate villains join churches, and to the world 
are very devout, but a^e finally found to be wolves in sheep's clothing; 
and every caution should be taken to prevent political bias warping the 
executive of this Friday Club. 

Therefore each member should have entire liberty of conscience to 
act and vo^c as he pleases. But when there is no appearance of guile, 
it is supposed the members will all vote as the executive may, after a 
.sober hearing of all sides, decide as proper. 



144 Guide to the 



statutes, or, as will doubtless be preferred, under a special 
charter from, and with perhaps some pecuniary assistance 
of the State Legislature. 

2d. Shares one hundred dollars each. Capital varying 
from one hundred thousand to one million dollars, de- 
pending upon the erection of a building for the Boston head- 
quarters, and upon the practical sympathy given to this 
work by capitalists, who invest from their hope of good 
dividends, and from the benevolent, who subscribe for 
shares in their own and that of others' names, whom they 
wish to compliment, as trustees, for the benefit of The 
Massachusetts Trepho-Phagian Institute (from the 
Greek trcphein, to nourish, phagien, to eat), which is 
strictly a charity, to distribute delicacies of sanitary 
cookery, &c, to the invalid poor. This food-dispensary 
institute getting all its supplies from the Institute of Cook- 
ery, and paying for them with the dividends on its funds 
invested in the capital stock of this Institute of Cookery. 

In furtherance of this plan, the owner of Ridge Hill 
Farms proposes to deed the so-called Charity Reservation 
of his estate, comprising three hundred and fifty acres 
of land every way suitable for agricultural purposes, as 
well as having all the desiderata of pine woods, boating, 
fishing, &c, required by summer recreationists, to the 
Trepho-Phagian Institute, to form one part, at such sum 



Ridge Hill Farms. 145 

as may be decided, of its stock in the capital of the Insti- 
tute of Cookery. The building and work now just com- 
menced, he proposes shall be at the cost of the Institute 
that receives them. 

This large and valuable territory already has two large 
barns, capable of sheltering over one hundred cows, be- 
sides other buildings, including the Corner-stone Pig- 
gery, &c. 

The National Government has made reservations of 
funds from the sale of Government lands, in aid of agri- 
cultural colleges teaching the art of production of food 
supplies. Are such institutes of cookery as teach how to 
prepare these food supplies, as shall best control the in- 
telligence and the physique of our race, unworthy of sim- 
ilar aid and encouragement? 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has made appro- 
priation in aid of the Agassiz School of Zoology, at Harvard 
University, amounting to three hundred and twenty-three 
thousand dollars. 

It has aided in publishing Harris' great work on " In- 
sects Injurious to Vegetation." It has given a fostering 
care to the food supplies cultivated in our rivers and on 
our coasts, by the appointment and payment of fish com- 
missioners. 

It should now pass one general act requiring all towns 



146 Guide to the 



and cities to stock with fish, in order to purify the waters 
of the same, such ponds, lakes or streams whence they 
obtain their water supplies. Will it not commence by 
requiring Brookline and Newton to stock with fish the 
waters of Charles River, inasmuch as fish are regarded 
as the most efficient purifiers? 

The Commonwealth should encourage its State Board 
of Health to investigate minutely and enforce all laws 
relating to the adulterations of articles offered for sale for 
table food. And may not the Commonwealth, with equal 
propriety, make an appropriation in aid of this Massachu- 
setts Institute of Cookery? 

The several towns and cities of this Commonwealth are 
permitted, and do make investments in railroads and other 
works of public improvement : may not this Massachusetts 
Institute of Cookery be regarded as a public improvement 
very much needed, and one pointing to the good of all? 

The City of Boston has expended between one and two 
millions of dollars for the Danvers Insane Hospital; and 
millions for its City Hospital, court-houses, jails, and other 
correctionary institutions. 

It has annually appropriated about five thousand dollars 
for the free distribution of soup, from the police stations, 
to the famished, suffering from the stagnation in commerce 
and manufactures. 



Ridge Hill Parms. 147 

Then may it not, with economy to its treasury, appro- 
priate one hundred or two hundred thousand dollars tow- 
ards the erection of an edifice in Boston for use as the head- 
quarters of the Massachusetts Institute of Cookery, wherein 
all the female members of the senior classes in our public 
schools may be educated in that art of chemical and of 
sanitary cookery, which, more than any other science, is 
the basis of intelligence or depravity of our age, and to 
a large extent the prevention of that disease and crime 
which compels the erection of hospitals, court-houses and 
jails? 

If the City of Boston is to feed its famishing, it can be 
better done by giving coupons for deliveries of soup at 
the branch stations of the Cookery Institute, where that 
prepared by superior experts can be had at as low a cost 
as that produced in the police stations, where the deserving 
poor naturally are averse to go for it. By so doing, 
there is no scorching of the amour profire, inasmuch as 
the charity coupon may not be discernible from that 
bought by those more favored with this world's pecuniary 
comforts. 

These branch selling depots will serve a large class who 
will not steal, cannot beg, and at present prices, particu- 
larly in Boston, where flesh food is higher than in New 
York, Philadelphia or Baltimore, are restricted from buy- 



148 Guide to tJie 



ing. This institution can buy at wholesale at less than 
one half that paid by the consumer, and can save fully 
another twenty-five per cent (in all say three fourths), 
by utilizing the residuum, and methodizing work, and ex- 
penditures on the factory system. This institution, by its 
branch salesrooms, will enable many to be independent of 
those social grievances, the house servant, which now 
migrate from A to B, and from B to A, because their mu- 
tations increase the fees of, and therefore are not frowned 
upon by, the proprietor of that well-known institution, 
very properly called the "Intelligence" Office, as it cer- 
tainly does control the "intelligence"" of our race more 
than the Boston schools or Harvard University. 

The City of Boston is most certainly warranted in en- 
couraging the work here outlined, by a liberal appropria- 
tion, or by investment in its capital, as cities invest in 
other works of public improvement. The Boston City 
Board of Health should work with it and be of it. The 
poison imported in tea should be exposed, and dealers 
punished. The students, male and female, in our public 
schools, should be taught chemical analysis, and the 
use of the microscope, and how to detect the adulterations 
in sugar, pepper, coffee, flour, and nearly three out of 
four of our food staples, which are now undermining the 
vigor or physique of our age. 



Ridge Hill Farms. 149 

The Board of Health can affiliate in many ways with 
such an institution. It may study if it be practicable to 
control the mixing of water and milk, which tends to 
fearfully increase the mortality list of infants, by laws 
compelling producers of milk to send it to market in re- 
ceptacles holding not over two quarts, with a slip of paper 
pasted from can neck over the stopper, showing by its 
being torn or broken, that some one has tampered with 
the milk. This paper, having the name of the producer 
printed upon it, will make him responsible for brewers' 
grain or Indian meal milk, and give him a reputation ac- 
cordingly. The Board of Health, in common with this 
Institute of Cookery, should print monthly, and when 
necessary, weekly, a circular-sized newspaper, offered to 
subscribers at not over one dollar the year, containing 
reports of analyses of adulterations, a fiillory column 
of those detected in adulterations, sanitary laws, recom- 
mendations for the comfort of the healthy as well as of the 
invalid, how to protect man and beast from mosquito 
trials of life, and to be used as a communicator with 
the Boards of Health of other cities, and as an authori- 
tative advertiser of those sanitary grievances which should 
be copied in the public journals in all sections of our 
country. 

The City of Boston is most certainly warranted in en- 



150 Guide to the 



couraging this work by a liberal appropriation. Will it be 
done by the city officials of the present year? 

All such as take any interest in these matters, may no- 
tify their wish to subscribe for stock in the capital of the 
Massachusetts Institute of Cookery, in their own behalf, 
or as trustee for the Food Dispensary, by notifying any of 
the following Trepho-Phagian committee : — 
Harvey D. Parker, Edwin Chapin, 

Mrs. S. T. Hooper, Mrs. James Browne, 

Mrs. Oliver Ditson, Mrs. Osborne Howes. 

Trustees. 
Ex-Gov. Wm. Gaston, Charles M. Clapp, 
J. W. Candler, Isaac Fenno, 

Dr. Joseph Burnett, Wm. E. Baker, 

Jerome Jones, Edw'd Farns worth Baker, 

Walter Farnsworth Baker : 
or by calling and subscribing at 13 West Street, Boston. 

This committee will also have supervision of and decis- 
ion as to awarding ten prizes to such as shall send to 13 
West Street, Boston, in time to be practically tested at 
the Governors' Fete on September 20, at the laying of the 
corner-stone of the Institute Laboratory at Ridge Hill 
Farms, the best samples of bread made by the sender, or 
of some approved new dish of cookery, best recipe for pre- 
paring any special kind of cookery, &c. All bread should 
be sent well packed from dampness. 



Ridge Hill Fa rms. 151 

All such as wish to subscribe any large or small sum 
toward a permanent fund for the Trepho-Phagian Institute 
may notify any of the above-named committee. 

Such as believe that trying is succeeding, and that it is 
our duty to act, and not listlessly remain passive, think- 
ing we cannot change or get out of old ruts, those who 
sympathize with this suggested Friday Reform Club, 
should select some men above reproach or political bias in 
their respective wards, districts, towns, cities or counties, 
as Quartermasters, Lieutenants, Captains, Colonels of the 
Grand Friday Reform Army, and such as shall compose a 
const ""ative Board of Counsellors, and push this work till 
j r ou also stir up and incite an active interest in this work 
by receiving numerous letters from you, the following gen- 
tlemen, who, however, will know of this project for the first 
time on reading it in this book, but whom we desire to in- 
terest as principals in this work, and hope to do so, if you, 
reader, that sympathize with the plan, will only write them, 
signifying your w T ish to join, and thus incite them to take 
hold : Ex-Governor William Gaston, Ex-Mayor Otis Nor- 
cross, Ex-Mayor Frederic W. Lincoln, Henry P. Kidder, 
Henry Lee, Marshall P. Wilder, Joseph Burnett, Harvey D. 
Parker, R. C. Greenleaf, Albert Bovvker, Nathaniel J. Brad- 
lee, Samuel Johnson, Thomas Gameld. Our interest in the 
work must be our apology for thus using these names with- 



152 Guide to the Ridge Hill Far 7ns. 

out the knowledge of any one of them, and thus, of course, 
in no way making them responsible for this our assumptive 
act. Pleading guilty to bringing these conservative modest 
men into print, and of skirting the edge of the globe in our 
social-science rambles, if we have bored you with this long 
epistle you have yourself to blame for reading the effusions 
of your friend, who wishes both to amuse and interest you 
in a good work. 

CRAYONATED SCIENCE. 



INDEX GUIDE. 



References may be made to the map, but please make 
allowance for the numbers thereon differing from the num- 
bers herein. 

PAGE 

i. Permission to visit Ridge Hill Farms . . 3 

2. Register jour name at Registry Office . . 4 

3. Visit Norino Tower, Arcadium, Tivoli Hall 6, 7, 8 

4. Black and Gold Stable 5, 8 

5. Coons in Pavilion Grove . . . . 11 

6. Album Bowling Alley 9 

7. Diorama, green wood-work, wire sides . . 12 

8. African Porcupine in oval enclosure . . 12 

9. Cages containing Cockatoos, Parrots, Macaws 12 

10. Squirrel Cages . . . . . . . 11 

11. Leaky-Boot Fountain . . . . . 11 

12. Pavilion . . . . . . . . 11 

13. Cage of Ring-neck Doves . . . . 11, 12 

14. Mushroom Seats ...... 24 

15. Pass through Minnehaha's Wigwam . . 24 

16. Eddie's and Walter's Gardens, and their Play and 

Ware House 24 



INDEX. 



17- 

iS. 
19. 
20. 

21. 

22. 

23- 

24. 

25- 
26. 
27. 
28. 
29. 
30- 
31- 
32. 

33- 
34- 
35- 
36. 
37- 
33. 

39- 

40. 



Goat enclosure 
Balustrade Walk to Chapel 
Chapel .... 

Floral Avenue . 

Monkey Building 

Conservatory of new Hot-houses 

Pass to the South of the owner's residence . 

Mosaic Gardens ...... 

Camp John Adams ...... 

Union Monument ...... 

Chilian Pavilion ...... 

Octagon Bear-Pit — Seneca Bears . . 17, 
Gnome Drinking Fountain . 

Arboretum Walks, Basin Spring Fountain 
Arboretum Lodge ...... 

Boat-house 

Frog Fountain ...... 

Coliseum Bridge ...... 

Rustic Bridge ...... 46 

Circular Bear-Pit 

Steamboat Landing . 

Peacock House 

Deer Park, Buffaloes, Bison, Elk 

Krino Valley, right side .... 



PAGE 

IS, 16 

25 

9 

26 

13 
26 

26, 67 
28 
33 
33 
44 

21,44 

44 
45 
46 

47 
46 
46 
5c, 51 
5i 
5i 
52 
52 
55 





INDEX. 






iii 


41. 


Krino Valley, left side 






PAGE 

61 


43. 


Rustic Seat and Umbrella 






61 


43- 


Gothic Arch and Smugglers' Cove 






61 


44- 


Entrance to Crystal Tower 






62 


45- 


Smugglers' Cave 








63 


46- 


Flirtation Tunnel 








63 


47- 


Stalactite Grotto 








63 


48- 


Turnstile 








65 


49- 


Boston Fire Monument 








52 


5o- 


Circular Bear-Pit 








65 


Si- 


Camera Obscura 








65 


52- 


Photograph Studio 








66 


53- 


Registry Office 






4, 66, 63 


54- 


Charity Reservation 






29, in 


55- 


Windmill Tower 






29 


56. 


Riverside Herd Barn 






in 


57- 


Corner-Stone Piggery 


• H3> 132 


58. 


Governors' Castle .... 


• 133 


59- 


Ridge Hill Laboratory (for the Mass. Insti- 




tute of Cookery, headquarters in Boston), 




and the Trephis Home Hotel for summer 




boarders 134, 144 


60. 


MISCELLANEOUS. 

Ladies' Cottage 44 


61. 


Gentlemen's Cottage, rear 


f Bowling 


Alle 


y 





INDEX. 



PAGE 

62. Gentlemen's Walk ...... 44 

63. Friday Reform Club .... 89, 140, 151 

64. Trepho-Phagian Institute . . . 144, 150 

65. Boston Aquarium, 13 West St.. Boston. 

66. References to Executive Board of Boston free- 

ing the East Boston Ferries . 20, SS. iyj. 143 

67. Ridge Hill Farms Lunch Department . . 134 
6S. Porcus Family habits, litter-ary inclinations. 

&c. ... ... 123-31 

69. Florida, Brevard County Wonders . . 19 

70. Subscriptions to the Institute of Cookery 135,143,150 

Those subscribing ten shares in trust for 
Trepho-Phagian Institute, to be Patrons 
of this Food Dispensary. Those subscrib- 
ing four thousand dollars to be classed as 
Founders — all Stockholders to be invited 
guests at the" 20th September Fete. 



The Boston Aquarium, 13 West Street, Boston, is es- 
tablished specially in aid of and is to be donated to the 
Treph'o-Phagian Institute, and in the hope that it may result 
in inciting such an interest as will lead to an extensive 
Aquarium in Boston, for the education and amusement of 
the masses. 

It has salt and fresh water departments, stocked with 
Seals, Beavers, Sea Robins, Anemones, Crabs, Lobsters, 
Trout, Salmon, and thousands of curious mammalia and 
crustacaea, the study of whose habits is both instructive 
and amusing. 







J 



F you would keep 
Your lips from slips 

Five things 
Observe with care : 
Of whom you speak, 
To whom you speak, 

And how, 

And when, 

And where. 




